Obesity-2014 Obesity & Weight Management Scientific Tracks ...

241st OMICS Group Conference

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Obesity-2014

December 01-03, 2014 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Francisco Airport, USA

3rd International Conference and Exhibition on

Obesity & Weight Management

Scientific Tracks & Abstracts(Day 1)

Obesity-2014

Day 1 December 01, 2014

Session ChairReza HakkakUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA

Session Co-ChairQiaozhu SuUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

Session Introduction

1: Basic Science and Obesity2: Childhood Obesity and its Lifelong Effects3: Health Risks Associated With Obesity

Track 1, 2 & 3

Title: Mobilizing rural low-income communities to assess and improve the ecological environment to prevent childhood obesity Paula Peters, Kansas State University, USA

Title: Obesity prevention behaviors among Asian Indian American adolescents: A pilot studyAnnie Thomas, Loyola University Chicago, USA

Title: Metformin inhibits glucose production in hepatocytes by activating AMPKLing He, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA

Title: In pregnancies with overweight/obese gestational diabetes: Basal-bolus insulin therapy reduces maternal excessive triglyceride risePablo R Olmos, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile

Title: Obesity and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Results from Riyadh birth cohort studyHayfaa Wahabi, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Title: Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) and obesitySang Won Park, Harvard Medical School, USA

Title: Urine insulin values to motivate weight lossShilpa Tejpal, University of Warwick, UK

Title: 21-day kickstart: Translating plant-based research into practical applicationZeeshan Ali, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, USA

Title: Fat and drunk: The effect of obesity on mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitisTraci Murakami, University of Arizona, USA

Title: Sensory evaluation and nutritional composition of chocolate cake prepared with jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus L) seed flour for weight and obesity management.John David, SHIATS University, INDIA.

Title: Comparison of the metabolic status for type 2 diabetics and hypertensive diabeticsInes Gouaref, Etablissement Public Hospital El Biar (eg. Birtraria), Algeria

Title: Higher resting metabolic rate linked to systolic hypertension in obese subjects with the metabolic syndromeBrurya Tal, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel

Title: If you are obese, you have dysfunctional adipose tissue and vitamin D deficiency? You have 3D?Edita Stokić, University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Title: Physical activity and nutrition toward prevention of non-communicable diseases among school age children in Moshi municipality, TanzaniaMary V Mosha, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania

Title: Ghrelin receptor mediates HFCS-induced adipose inflammation and insulin resistanceYuxiang Sun, Baylor College of Medicine, USA

Title: Chronic carbon monoxide treatment attenuates development of obesity and remodels adipocytes in mice fed a high-fat dietAbdulhadi A AlAmoudi, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA

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Obesity-2014 December 01-03, 2014

J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014

ISSN: 2165-7904, JOWT an open access journal

Volume 4, Issue 5

Mobilizing rural low-income communities to assess and improve the ecological environment to prevent childhood obesityPaula K PetersKansas State University, USA

Introduction: A seven-state multi-disciplinary integrated Research and Extension team implemented a community development intervention with a quasi-experimental design. The hypotheses: community coaching will enhance a community’s ability to address identified needs and will result in greater behavior changes in nutrition and physical activity among those caring for 4 year old children.

Aim: To mobilize capacity in communities to create and sustain an environment and culture of healthy eating and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity in low income, young children, living in rural communities.

Methods: The seven partnering states are: IN, KS, ND, OH, SD, and WI. Active Community Coalitions (14) from 7 Intervention and 7 Comparison communities plus 7 Community Coaches (Intervention communities only) completed community assessments prior to implementing an annually selected intervention impacting nutrition and physical activity. A Toolkit of evidence based/informed resources was drafted for their initial use.

Objectives/Results: Community Coalition Self-Assessments are completed annually, Toolkit of Resources was drafted for communities’ use, First round of community interventions have been implemented in six states with the seventh state planned for this year, Community Coaches are active with Intervention communities and professional development, Qualitative data collection is occurring via Reflections from students, PDs, and Community Coaches, “Best practices” are being recognized and retained.

Future Steps: enhancement of the Socio-Ecological model of Health Behavior Change for Child Obesity Prevention and Toolkit of Resources, Effective community engagement and coaching are expected to positively impact success, Identified “Best Practices” will be promoted and shared.

BiographyPaula K Peters is Assistant Director, Family and Consumer Sciences, Kansas State Research and Extension, and Associate Professor, Human Nutrition, Manhattan, KS. She currently coordinates Kansas Family and Consumer Sciences Extension programs, directs Kansas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED), leads program development training for Extension educators, serves on the administrative teams for the KSU College of Human Ecology and Cooperative Extension, and is Principal Investigator on a five year project: “Mobilizing Rural Low-Income Communities to Assess and Improve the Ecological Environment to Prevent Childhood Obesity”. She has held elected office and is active in various professional associations including Kansas Nutrition Council, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), Food and Nutrition Extension Educators Division, Weight Realities Division, and Epsilon Sigma Phi. During her tenure at Kansas State University, she has secured over $40M in competitive grants funded to the university showing her passionate orientation to youth, families, and their communities.

[email protected]

Paula K Peters, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Obesity prevention behaviors among Asian Indian American adolescents: A pilot studyAnnie ThomasLoyola University Chicago, USA

The number of children at risk for overweight and/or obesity has increased dramatically in the last decade worldwide. Overweight in children is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease later in life. Although much is known

about race differences in obesity among adults, less is known about race and ethnic differences among Asian Indian adolescents. The purpose of this feasibility study was to evaluate obesity prevention behaviors of Asian Indian adolescent females and determine the relationship of these behaviors to cardiovascular risk factors. A cross sectional descriptive design was used to obtain baseline data regarding knowledge of and engagement in health behaviors needed to maintain a healthy weight (i.e., obesity prevention behaviors). In addition, self efficacy to adopt obesity prevention behaviors and level of acculturation were assessed. BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured and evaluated with respect to age-appropriate norms to provide an index of cardiovascular risk. A convenience sample (N=20) of female Asian Indians 14-18 years of age were enrolled from churches. After participant and parental consent, participants completed self report questionnaires that ask about demographic and health history, knowledge of and engagement in physical activity, healthy diet as well as self efficacy to adopt these behaviors, and sleeping behaviors. To quantify engagement in physical activity, participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days, which objectively recorded their level and intensity of physical activity. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index assessed the sleep duration and quality. As the level of acculturation may modify study outcomes, the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale are also administered. Lastly, this study explored the usefulness of a novel technology to assess food intake and physical activity. For this purpose, participants are asked to complete a 3-day food diary using the web-based USDA SuperTracker in combination with photo-documentation of their meals. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the demographic characteristics and for all study variables. Cardiovascular risk factors (BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure) are compared to age/gender appropriate percentiles based on population norms, as referenced in the Research Plan. Relationships among variables are determined by calculating the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation coefficient.

BiographyAnnie Thomas has completed her PhD at the age of 35 years from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, India and working as an Assistant Professor at Loyola University Chicago since 2009. Before relocating to Chicago, she was an Assistant professor at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA for almost 5 years. Her current research focus is to understand the obesity prevention behaviors among Asian Indian adolescents in the US and to institute obesity/overweight intervention strategies in reducing the risk factors for type 2 diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease in later life. She has mentored many students in completing the research projects and research presentations in the US and abroad. She is also a reviewer of manuscripts and abstracts for various publishing companies/organizations. She has presented many papers on various topics at the national and international level.

[email protected]

Annie Thomas, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Metformin inhibits glucose production in hepatocytes by activating AMPKLing He Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA

Metformin is a first-line anti-diabetic agent taken by 150 million people across the world every year. Metformin has been shown to reduce BMI and improve hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in obese and diabetic patients. Due to these

benefits, there has been an increase in its use by obese children. However, its mechanism of action remains only partially understood and controversial. It has been proposed that metformin suppression of glucose production via the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex 1 increases the AMP/ATP ratio in hepatocytes and is AMPK-independent. However, unachievably high concentrations of metformin were employed in these studies. We found that metformin, via an AMPK-dependent mechanism, suppresses glucose production and gluconeogenic gene expression in primary hepatocytes at concentrations found in the portal vein of animals (60-80 µM) without increasing the AMP/ATP ratio. Interestingly, low concentrations of metformin actually increased cellular ATP levels. Metformin also inhibits gluconeogenic gene expression in the liver of mice when administered orally. Low concentrations of metformin promote the formation of the AMPK αβγ complex, which leads to increased phosphorylation of AMPKα at T172 by LKB1 and reduced dephosphorylation of AMPKα at T172 by protein phosphatase PP2C in in vitro assays, resulting in an increase in net phosphorylation of the α catalytic subunit at T172. Furthermore, the cAMP-PKA pathway negatively regulates AMPK activity through phosphorylation at S485/497 on the α subunit, which in turn reduces net phosphorylation at T172. Since diabetic patients often have hyperglucagonemia, AMPKα phosphorylation at S485/497 is a therapeutic target to improve metformin efficacy.

BiographyLing He graduated from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA. He did his postdoctoral training in Dr. Fredric Wondisford’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA. Then he was recruited as an instructor and now is an assistant professor at the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital. His research focuses on the mechanistic study to understand the gene regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis.

[email protected]

Ling He, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

In pregnancies with overweight/obese gestational diabetes: Basal-bolus insulin therapy reduces maternal excessive triglyceride risePablo R Olmos Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile

One of the mechanisms for unrelenting macrosomia in the offspring of overweight or obese mothers with glucose-controlled gestational diabetes (GDM) is an excessive rise of maternal triglycerides (TG) during pregnancy.

Objectives: To ascertain if basal-bolus insulin therapy (BBIT) or other component of GDM treatment (limitation of weight gain, Metformin), were capable of reducing this excessive rise of TG in GDM.

Methods: In a longitudinal-retrospective fashion, we studied 131 singleton GDM pregnancies by means of Stepwise multiple linear regression, which determined that only BBIT (p= 0.011) -and no other aspect of treatment- was related to a decrease in maternal TG Z-Scores. Thereafter, we divided the 131 GDM pregnancies in 2 groups: No-BBIT (n=58, BMI 20-24.9 Kg × m-2), and BBIT (n=71, BMI ≥25.0 Kg × m-2. We also calculated Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP, an indirect measure of cholesterol-ester transfer protein, CETP activity) as Log10(TG/HDL), where HDL is high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Newly Observed Findings: [a] Only BBIT treatment -but neither limitation of weight gain nor Metformin- was capable to decrease maternal TG Z-scores, by doing so in a dose-related fashion (RSpearman=-0.221; p= 0.03). [b] The AIP remained within normal ranges for pregnancy, being similar in both groups (p=0.9).

Conclusions: Basal-bolus insulin therapy reduces the excessive rise of maternal triglycerides in overweight-obese GDM mothers with tight glycemic control. This beneficial effect of insulin is not related to changes in the CETP activity.

BiographyPablo R Olmos finished his Internal Medicine Residency in 1987, plus Endocrinology Fellowship at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine in 1993, plus a MS degree in Biomedical Engineering at OSU College of Engineering. He has published 49 papers in both national and international journals, plus 1 book and 5 book chapters.

[email protected]

Pablo R Olmos, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Obesity and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Results from Riyadh birth cohort studyHayfaa A WahabiKing Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Obesity is proven to have detrimental effect on the pregnancy outcomes. The current study is a sub-analysis from the prospective cohort study, Riyadh Birth Cohort, which investigated the prevalence and the outcomes of pregnancies

complicated with pre-gestational and gestational diabetes among, other complications of pregnancy, in Saudi pregnant women. Women with recorded pre-pregnancy weight were divided into four subgroups based on their body mass index (BMI) (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese) according to the WHO classification and the outcomes of obese and overweight women were compared to the outcomes of normal weight women. Obstetrical outcomes of interest including gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, induction of labour, mode of delivery, shoulder dystocia and macrosomia were compared. Data were collected from 3624 subjects with available pre-pregnancy BMI. 77 (2.1%) subject were underweight (BMI <18.5), 2213 (61.1%) were of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24) and 1334 (36.4%) subject were either overweight or obese (BMI ≥24.1). Compared to the normal weight women those who were overweight or obese had increased risk of gestational diabetes, (odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2-3.3; P<0.0001), gestational hypertension, OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.2-3.3; P=0.005, induction of labour, OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2-1.7; P<0.0001, caesarean section delivery, OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.5-2.1; P<0.0001, shoulder dystocia, OR 3.; 95% CI 1.1-8.66; P=0.027 and delivery of a macrosomic baby (weight ≥4.00 kg), OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.9-4.2; P<0.0001. In conclusion women who are obese are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to normal weight women.

BiographyHayfaa A Wahabi is an Associated Professor in the Chair of Evidence-based Healthcare and Knowledge Translation, King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). She is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists of England and holds a PhD in maternal epidemiology from Warwick University. She published more than 20 papers in high impact journals including systematic reviews which influenced policy and practice in maternity services all over the world. She is a member of editorial board of many reputable journals.

[email protected]

Hayfaa A Wahabi, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) and obesitySang Won ParkBoston Children’s Hospital, USA

Obesity and its associated complications constitute serious public health threats in the 21st century. Over the last decade, we and others have shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress levels are increased in obesity. It has been documented

that such increased ER stress levels in obesity plays a key role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We have previously reported a transcription factor called X-box binding protein1 (XBP1) as a key player in the development of obesity and consequent insulin resistance. Recently, we have discovered that the expression levels of bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7), a newly identified tumor suppressor, are reduced in obesity. We showed that restoration of BRD7 expression levels in the liver of severely obese and diabetic mice reduces the circulating blood glucose levels, decreases gluconeogenesis, improves glucose tolerance, therefore, reverses the type 2 diabetic features. We showed that reinstating BRD7 levels in the liver restores XBP1s’ ability to translocate to the nucleus in obesity conditions, therefore, restores the transcriptional activity of XBP1s, and acts to maintain glucose homeostasis.

BiographySang Won Park has completed her PhD in 2007 and received postdoctoral training from Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), Harvard Medical School. In 2011, she was promoted to Instructor in the Division of Endocrinology and she is now Assistant Professor at BCH, Harvard Medical School. The main focus of her research is to understand why insulin resistance and cancer develop in obesity. She is trying to unravel the molecular defects in obesity and understand the underlying mechanism by which insulin resistance develops in obesity. Her work has been published in reputed journals, as such Nature Medicine, and Cell Metabolism.

[email protected]

Sang Won Park, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Urine insulin values to motivate weight lossShilpa TejpalUniversity of Warwick, United Kingdom

Our lives are full of habits, good ones (example: exercise) and bad ones (example: eating unhealthy food). The imbalance in these habits is particularly evident in the world-wide prevalence of obesity. It is widely proven that many diseases

such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and depression are strongly influenced by these habits. Shifting the balance between bad and good habits can therefore prevent disease and enhance well-being. Here, we propose to monitor urine insulin levels to provide people with weight loss intent with molecular feed-back on their metabolic state. The idea is to borrow the body’s own molecules used in internal communicating to assist individuals externally in the conscious struggle to promote healthy life-style changes. Urine samples were collected, volumes measured and aliquots stored together with detailed exercise and food and drink intake information using DoForms via website interface and iPhone transmission. Insulin measurements were carried out using a MESO SECTOR S 600 instrument and the Mesoscale Human Insulin Kit based on immunosandwich electrochemiluminescence detection. Insulin was readily detectable in 47/50 samples with a replicate variation of 3.0±3.6% (range 0.0 to 12.8%) and excellent dilution linearity (113.3pg/ml initial concentration). Comparison of the insulin data with the food intake and exercise information indicated that unlike blood glucose, urine insulin levels are highly sensitive to changes in diet and activity and should therefore be suitable in providing individuals feedback on related behaviors. Such measurements could also be useful to health-care professionals in monitoring adherence to recommended life-style changes.

BiographyShilpa Tejpal is a Research Assistant in the Division of Translational and Systems Medicine- Metabolic & Vascular Health, at the Medical School, University of Warwick. She holds an MSc in Biotechnology and Business Management (University of Warwick, 2014) and BEng Biotechnology (Jaypee University of Information Technology, 2013). Her bachelor’s research project was on, “Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis Induction by Mushroom Extracts in Breast and Kidney Cancer Cells”. She is the awardee of Warwick-India Scholarship from the University of Warwick. She has received a gold medal for being top student in Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at Jaypee University of Information Technology, India. Her current research interests are in membrane proteins such as G protein coupled receptors, interferon gamma and insulin receptors.

[email protected]

Shilpa Tejpal, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

21-Day kickstart: Translating plant-based research into practical applicationZeeshan AliPhysicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, USA

Obesity and type 2 diabetes have reached epidemic proportions worldwide over the last two decades. Compelling research supports a plant-based eating pattern for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Based on our research findings,

including a NIH-funded diabetes study and a landmark workplace wellness study, we have implemented an innovative online nutrition education program, the 21-Day Kickstart which serves as an effective therapeutic model for the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Running since 2009 with over 360,000 participants, the 21-Day Kickstart is a free, three-week program that runs the first of every month. The program includes daily emails, community support, recipes and menus, nutrition education, and cooking instruction videos. Participants report that they experience more energy and weight loss. Many return month after month to repeat the program to support their long-term health goals. This program, offered in four different languages demonstrates the wide-spread potential of online nutrition education tools as diet interventions for preventing and reversing diabetes and obesity.

BiographyZeeshan Ali is the Kickstart India Program Specialist at the Physicians Committee. He received his doctorate degree from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Germany. He held a Marie Curie fellowship from Gabriele D’Annunzio University in Italy in 2010 and a postdoctoral fellowship at Piemonte Orientale Italy 2012.

[email protected]

Zeeshan Ali, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Fat and drunk: The effect of obesity on mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitisHabib S2, Murakami T1, Patel K3, Dominguez C3, Takyar V3, Safdar A and Boyer T2 University of Arizona, USA

Purpose: Fat and alcohol are major contributors to liver disease; however their influences are not well understood. It is unclear whether obesity affects the overall mortality in alcoholic hepatitis. We aimed to determine the mortality attributable to obesity from a cohort of patients diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis.

Methods: The University of Arizona hospital database was queried for ICD-9 diagnosis codes of 571.1 (acute alcoholic hepatitis), 571.2 (alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver) and 571.3 (alcoholic liver damage, unspecified) from January 1, 2000 to October 31, 2011. Data was retrospectively collected on height, weight, ethnicity, gender, age, amount of alcohol drinking, and laboratory values. The MELD score, Child-Pugh classification, discriminant function (DF), APRI, ALD/NAFLD index (ANI) and AST/ALT ratio were calculated. Participants were stratified into 2 groups according to the WHO classification of obesity according to BMI (body mass index) for which ≤ 30 kg/m2 as normal and overweight and ≥25 kg/m2 as obese. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality, and the Social Security Death Index was utilized to obtain mortality at 30-days, 90-days and 1-year.

Results: A total of 130 patients were analyzed with a mean follow up of 3.5 years. There were 95 patients in the non-obese group and 35 patients in the obese group. The mean age was 46.9 (SD=11.2), mean BMI was 27.1 (SD=6.94) and the mean MELD score was 16 (SD=9.8) and mean AST/ALT ratio was 2.4 (SD=1.4) and mean DF was 28 (SD=41.5). The overall mortality between the 2-groups was not significant (p=0.40). For patients with a discriminant function of ≥ 32, there was a non-significant trend towards increased mortality in those who were obese compared to the non-obese group (p=0.60), and there was no significant difference in mortality in either group if the DF was <32. In the acute phase (initial 30-days) there was no observed difference in mortality between the 2-groups, however there was an increase in mortality in the obese group after one-year. In the normal weight group, there was no differences in mortality whether the DF was ≥ or <32, however there was a significant trend for increased mortality in the obese group if the DF was ≥32 (p=0.004).

Conclusion: Obesity does not seem to affect the short-term mortality from alcoholic hepatitis. Over the course of time there appears to be an added mortality risk with obesity once the acute illness has past. In addition, obesity and alcohol likely have a synergistic effect causing increased mortality in those with alcoholic hepatitis who present with a high DF.

BiographyHabib S graduated from Islamia University, Bahalwalpur Pakistan in 1987, and completed post graduate training at Federal Postgraduate Institute, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, University of Glasgow, UK and University of Pittsburgh, USA in the field of Internal Medicine, gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplantation Hepatology. He is currently working at University of Arizona. He has published 25 papers in peer reviewed journals and is currently serving on editorial boards of several journals. He has presented his work at several national and international conferences and presented lectures as an invited speaker at several meetings nationally and internationally.

[email protected]

Habib S et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Sensory evaluation and nutritional composition of chocolate cake prepared with jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus L) seed flour for weight and obesity managementJohn DavidSHIATS University, India

Chocolate Cake is high in fat and may make a significant contribution to an individual’s calorie intake which leads to obesity, cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke in consumer. Most of the consumer selected calorie reduced foods for

weight management and maintain good health. Jackfruit (ArtocarpusheterophyllusL.) Seed Flour (JFSF) can be substituted at a certain level for wheat flour to satisfy consumer demands to increase fibre content in foods without sacrificing preferred sensory properties. JFSF has commercial potential for application as a cheap source of fibre, which tackles obesity problems. The product made out of JFSF found to be high in phenolic and antioxidant activities. An attempt has been made to blend 5-15% jackfruit seed flour (JFSF) for cake preparation by partial replacement of wheat flour. Thus it can be concluded that the enrichment of chocolate cake with JFSF will enhance the antioxidant properties as well as dietary fibre content as a remedy for weight mangement. As per sensory evaluation (over all acceptability) T1 (Flour : JFSF = 95:05) found to be best among all the treatments. As per nutritional composition (dietary fibre and antioxidant content) T3(Flour : JFSF = 85:15) found to be best among all the treatments.

BiographyJohn David is a vibrant university professor in SHIATS University, Allahabad, in the field of Food and Dairy Technology, having a teaching experience of 21 years. He is a passionate research worker having more than 70 research publication in his credit. Prof. David has guided 40 M.Sc / M.Tech and 10 PhD theses. He is a first class post graduate in Dairy Technology, Seed Technology and Business Administration. He has a flair for writing technical books and already written 7 books of national and international repute in the field of Food and Dairy Technology. Prof. David participated in many national and international conferences and presented research papers. He is an expert in Business Administration too. Prof. David is a regular examiner in number of universities namely, Allahabad Central University, PUSA Agricultural University, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Bihar Agricultural University, Chitrakoot University, U.P. RajarshiTandon University etc. An orator having proficiency in 10 different languages and a versatile expert for Food and Dairy Technology in All India Radio and Television (Door Darshan) programmes. He is a life member of several professional bodies like, IDA, DTSI, BRS, AGRO-BIOS, Intensive Agriculture and Progressive Research Journal etc. Several of his articles appeared in Hindustan Times, Times of India and other Indian dailies. Prof. David held many post of recognition like Registrar, Chairman, Editor and Research Coordinator in several committees of university. He has been bestowed with Young Scientist award in the year 2006 for his excellent research in the field of Food and Dairy Technology.

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John David, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Comparison of the metabolic status for type 2 diabetics and hypertensive diabeticsI Gouaref1,2, S Zemirline1, Z Bellahsene and E A Koceir2

1Etablissement Public Hospitalierd’El Biar (ex Birtraria), Algérie2LBPO/FSB/USTHB, Algérie

The association hypertension/diabetes mellitus is common. Hypertension often precedes his appearance and precipitates renal disease. This work compares the metabolic status of non-hypertensive diabetics to the hypertensive diabetics.

The study concerns 51 diabetics aged from 33 to 55 (14 non-hypertensive and 37 hypertensive). We estimate Glycemia (GOD/POD), glycated hemoglobin HbA1c (Immunoturbidimetry), Urea (urease),Creatinine (JAFFE), Uric Acid (uricase), Cholesterol (CHOD/POD), Triglycerides (GPO/POD), HDL-c (Direct Immunoturbidimetry),CRP (agglutination), LDL-c and the atherogenic ratio were calculated respectively by: Friedwald formula: LDL-c = Cho-(HDL + (TG / 5)) and TC / HDL-c. Results show that for the hypertensive diabetics glycemia andglycated hemoglobin are lower than the non-hypertensive ones by 10.1% and 7.5% respectively. Same remark for the lipid profile, the value fall by 16.2% for the triglycerides, 4.1% for the cholesterol, 2% for HDL-c, 2.5% for LDL-c and 7.5% for the CT/HDL-c ratio.On the other hand, the Urea, the creatinine and the uric acid present higher values by 15.3%, 1.8% and 0.9% respectively. We observe a better carbohydrate and lipid balance for the hypertensive diabetics; this can be explained by a multifactorial clinical care of these patients. In the non-hypertensive case, the disruption of their clinical assessment could be the result of treatment unsuitable or poorly observed.Diabetic cardiovascular risk is significantly increased, hence the importance of early and systematic hypertension detection to allow a better management of these patients.

BiographyI Gouaref is conducting her PhD thesis on the link between trace elements, type 2 diabetes and hypertension in the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria. She started her Phd thesis in 2011 and participated to many national and international scientific events to present her conclusions on the diabetes in Algeria, north Africa.

[email protected]

I Gouaref et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Higher resting metabolic rate linked to systolic hypertension in obese subjects with the metabolic syndromeBrurya Tal1, Gabi Shefer1, Jessica Sack1, Mariana Yaron1, Yonit Marcus1, Elad Segev2, Eli Carmeli3, David Yablonka1, Tova Even Chen1, Miri Margaliot1 and Naftali Stern1

1Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel2Holon Institute of Technology, Israel3University of Haifa, Israel

Background: Multiple factors are involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension in obese individuals. Recent studies have reported a strong association between blood pressure (BP) and resting metabolic rate (RMR). However, it is not known whether this relationship exists for systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) in obese subjects patients with the metabolic syndrome, in whom several homeostatic mechanisms are impaired.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship existing between RMR, to SBP and DBP, Fat Body Mass (FBM), Lean Body Mass (LBM), Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood parameters, in obese subjects with the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Sixty three non-diabetic subjects (27 women, 36 men) who fulfilled the ATPIII criteria for the metabolic syndrome, with a mean age of 50.4±12.5 yrs were evaluated. Mean BMI was 34.6±3.9 kg/m²; % FBM- 40.9±6.6 %; and LBM- 59±0.7%. Basal RMR was 1875.2±420.1 cal/day. Baseline assessment also included 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, clinical and biochemical profiling, subcutaneous periumbilical fat biopsy, region-defined body composition with DEXA and carotid intima-media thickness. The intervention targeted all assessed risk factors and was implemented through frequent interactions with dietitians, an endocrinologists, and physiotherapist expert for physical activity.

Results: At the baseline assessment RMR was significantly related to mean 24 h systolic blood pressure (r=0.3 p<0.05). There were significant inverse correlation between RMR to %FBM (r=0.45, p<0.05). RMR was also positively related to BMI (r=0.37, p<0.05) and fasting triglycerides (r=0.28, p<0.05).

Conclusion: This report extends and strengthens previous findings that RMR is independently related to SBP. Prior to this study, the relationship between RMR and SBP in metabolic obese subjects had not been explored. This study expanded the findings of Brock and colleagues by showing that REE was significantly related to SBP, independent of several possible confounders found in metabolic obesity.

BiographyBrurya Tal currently specializes in nutrition research in human beings at the Institute of Endocrinology, Tel-Aviv Medical Center. Metabolic dietary research on abdominal obesity in humans is accompanied by metabolic syndrome: hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia and cardiovascular diseases.

[email protected]

Brurya Tal et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

If you are obese, you have dysfunctional adipose tissue and vitamin D deficiency? You have 3D?Edita Stokić University of Novi Sad, Serbia

Prevalence of obesity, as a chronic disease characterized by an increase of fat mass to an extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, is increasing worldwide. In Serbia, obesity is one of the most important health problems with an incidence

of 54% and the highest overall prevalence of overweight was observed in the area of Vojvodina (58%). Obesity, characterized by the enlarged size of fat mass, is associated with changes in adipose tissue function. Adipocytokines derived from adipocytes - leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), adiponectin and resistin - are involved in the pathogenesis of the cardiometabolic disturbances of obesity. Clinical and epidemiological studies indicate that vitamin D deficiency has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemias. In this context, our investigation showed a negative relationship between serum vitamin D levels and anthropometric indicators of obesity (BMI, WC and FAT %) and their activity is especially expressed in visceral fat depots. There was a negative correlation between vitamin D level and leptin and resistin while a positive association with adiponectin concentrations was found. After considering the linear dependence and trend between 25(OH)D level and leptin and resistin, we found that they are at inverse dependence: with higher vitamin D levels, leptin and resistin have a downward trend. Trend estimation showed that increase in vitamin D level is accompanied by intensive increase in adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory product of adipocytes. Since the dysfunctional adipose tissue is a trigger for cardiometabolic disturbances in obese, interventional trials are required to establish whether vitamin D supplementation could be a therapeutic option for improving adipose tissue function and thus prevent obesity-related comorbidities.

BiographyEdita Stokić, MD, PhD, endocrinologist, Professor of Internal medicine-Endocrinology, employed in the Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders of the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina in Novi Sad, Serbia. In 2005, she was appointed as Chief of Department. She is currently the Vice President of Serbian Association for the Study of Obesity and Chairman of the Continuing Education Board (Society of Physicians of Vojvodina of the Medical Society of Serbia). She is also President of the Internal Medicine Section, and (2002-2004) President of Endocrinology Section within same Society. She is an author and co-author of 390 scientific articles, and publications on obesity, dyslipidemias and diabetes. She has also published monograph Obesity is treatable disease.

[email protected]

Edita Stokić, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Assessment of school policies and environment in promoting physical activity and nutrition toward prevention of non-communicable diseases among school age children in Moshi municipality, TanzaniaMary V Mosha1, Sia E Msuya 1, Sadick Z Temu1, Eric M Heri1 and Sanjay Kinra2

1Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania2London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

Non communicable diseases are emerging rapidly in developing countries, while at the same time communicable diseases are still a challenge. In this study, we assessed the school policies and environment on promoting physical activities

and nutrition in schools. This was a cross sectional study conducted in Moshi municipality. School policies were assessed through interviews with head teachers; information collected was on school policy, physical education and nutrition. School environment: playgrounds, competitive foods and sport equipment were assessed using an observation checklist. Anthropometric measurements; height and weight were taken from 1,255 pupils aged 9 to 16 years. IOTF values were used to categorize school children as normal, overweight or obese. Prevalence of overweight/ obesity was determined. School environments were conducive to allow different types of games to take place. 88% of the schools had playgrounds and 80% of the pupils were participating in physical activities. 32% had designated area for parking bicycles. Competitive foods such as chips, fried cassavas, doughnuts and sugary beverages (juice and cola) were found either within or nearby school compounds; however there were no misleading or marketing adverts. The prevalence of overweight /obesity was higher in private schools 18.6% (95% CI 13.6 to 23.0), while both overweight/obesity (4.8% (95% CI 3.5-6.2)) and underweight (10.4% (CI 8.7 to 12.1)) were found to be prevalent in government schools. Tanzania is in early transitioning period, with a coexistence of both under nutrition and over nutrition. Public health strategies targeting school children and their physical environments are needed to prevent the emergence of NCDs and their risk factors including overweight and obesity.

Acknowledgements: My first words of appreciation and gratitude are for my supervisor Sanjay Kinra from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for reading, advising and giving valuable inputs for this project. I am also grateful to Sia Msuya from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College for mentoring towards this project. In working on this project I have been blessed with a friendly, cheerful and very hard working group of medical students (mentees) from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, they have been a role model for hard work in the field during data collection and data entry. Special thanks go also to teachers, parents and pupils for their willingness to participate in this study. This project was made possible by the MRTP in collaboration with the HRSA-funded KCMC MEPI grant # T84HA21123-02; U.S. National Institutes of Health.

BiographyMary V Mosha is a Tanzanian citizen, currently working as a lecturer in Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College Moshi, Tanzania. She has a wide experience in research for more than 10 years in the fields of malaria, childhood cataracts, reproductive health, nutrition and non-communicable diseases. She recently graduated from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with Master of Science in Nutrition for Global Health. As a lecturer in the Community Health Department, she teach courses on community medicine and nutrition, mentor students in the MPH program and Medical College, and am involved in a range of research activities.

[email protected]

Mary V Mosha et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Ghrelin receptor mediates HFCS-induced adipose inflammation and insulin resistanceYuxiang SunBaylor College of Medicine, USA

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is the most-used sweetener in US. While some studies suggest that HFCS consumption correlates with obesity and insulin resistance, other studies disagree. HFCS continues to be used as the primary sweetener

in food supplies.

To investigate the metabolic effects of HFCS, we studied mice fed regular diet, high fat diet (HFD), or regular diet supplemented with 8% HFCS in drinking water (to mimic soft drinks). HFD-fed mice consumed the most total calories, and showed the most weight gain and fat deposition. Surprisingly, HFCS-fed mice exhibited the most severe insulin resistance; disproportionately greater in relation to their calorie intake and body fat. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs), consist of pro-inflammatory F4/80+/CD11c+ and anti-inflammatory F4/80+/CD11c- macrophages, are closely linked to obesity and insulin resistance. HFCS feeding triggered robust increase of total ATMs similar to HFD, but intriguingly the ratio of anti-inflammatory ATMs was much lower, suggesting intensified adipose inflammation.

Orexigenic hormone ghrelin, via its receptor Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor (GHS-R), promotes adiposity and insulin resistance. To determine whether GHS-R mediates the effects of HFCS, we studied HFCS-fed Ghsr-null mice. The Ghsr-null mice exhibited lower pro-inflammatory ATMs and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, but no difference in anti-inflammatory ATMs, in visceral fat. Moreover, the Ghsr-null mice showed attenuated liver steatosis and less-pronounced HFCS-induced insulin resistance.

In summary, HFCS has detrimental effects on adipose inflammation and insulin resistance, beyond the extra calories from HFCS; thus the safety of HFCS should be re-evaluated. GHS-R antagonists may represent novel drugs for ameliorating adipose inflammation and insulin resistance.

BiographyYuxiang Sun received her MD from Beijing Medical University, P. R. China and PhD at the University of Manitoba, Canada. She subsequently received postdoctoral training at Baylor College of Medline. She is currently a principle investigator at Baylor College of Medicine. Her research interests are obesity, diabetes and metabolic regulation. He has published more than 40 peer reviewer papers many of which are in high ranking journals such as Cell Metabolism, JCI, PNAS, and Aging Cell. Currently, she serves as reviewer for a number of endocrine journals, and she is the Editorial Board Member of World Journal of Diabetes (WJD).

[email protected]

Yuxiang Sun, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Chronic carbon monoxide treatment attenuates development of obesity and remodels adipocytes in mice fed a high-fat dietAbdulhadi A AlAmodiUniversity of Mississippi Medical center, USA

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been demonstrated to result in chronic weight loss in several rodent models of obesity. However, the specific contribution of the HO metabolite, carbon monoxide (CO) to this response remains unknown.

In this study, we determined the effect of chronic low level administration of a specific CO donor on the progression of obesity and its effects on metabolism and adipocyte biology in mice fed a high-fat diet.Experiments were performed on C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (60%) from 4 weeks until 30 weeks of age. Mice were administered either the CO donor, carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORM)-A1 (5 mg kg(-1), intraperitoneally every other day) or the inactive form of the drug (iCORM-A1). Body weights were measured weekly and fasted blood glucose, insulin as well as body composition were measured every 6 weeks. Food intake, O2 consumption, CO2 production, activity and body heat production were measured at 28 weeks after start of the experimental protocol.Chronic CORM-A1 attenuated the development of high fat induced obesity from 18 weeks until the end of the study. Chronic CORM-A1 treatment in mice fed a high-fat diet resulted in significant decreases in fasted blood glucose, insulin and body fat and increased O2 consumption and heat production as compared with mice treated with iCORM-A1. Chronic CORM-A1 treatment also resulted in a significant decrease in adipocyte size and an increase in adipocyte number and in NRF-1, PGC-1α and UCP1 protein levels in epidydmal fat.Our results demonstrate that chronic CO treatment prevents the development of high-fat diet induced obesity via stimulation of metabolism and remodeling of adipocytes.

BiographyAbdulhadi AlAmodi has completed his MBBS from Alfaisal University College of Medicine, Riyadh, KSA. He joined recently the department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (School of Graduate Studies of Health Sciences). He has interest in research related to metabolism and obesity. He worked in the laboratory of Dr. David E. Stec and published over 15 peer-reviewed publications in well-respected journal such as Lancet and International Journal of Obesity. He also has interest in education research and developed innovative programs for undergraduate medical students in KSA and USA.

[email protected]

Abdulhadi A AlAmodi, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020


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Obesity-2014





Obesity-2014

Day 2 December 02, 20144: Nutrition and Healthy Diet5: Endocrinology and its effects6: Surgical and Non-surgical Treatments of Obesity

Track 4, 5 & 6

Session ChairAnil K MandalUniversity of Florida, USA

Session Co-ChairSang Won ParkHarvard Medical School, USA

Title: Changes in liver metabolism in Mg2+ deficiency: Implications for NAFLDand metabolic syndromeAndrea Romani, Case Western Reserve University, USA

Title: Lipogenic diet-induced alteration of microRNAs in hepatic stress signaling: Implications for hepatic lipoprotein metabolism and insulin resistanceQiaozhu Su, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

Title: The effect of dietary food patterns on adiposity and cardiometabolic risks in growing adolescents - A finding from a population-based study in MalaysiaLeng Huat Foo, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia

Title: Exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) - Metabolic responses including obesity and diabetesAbraham Haim, University of Haifa, Israel

Title: Role of adipokines in immune-mediated disorders of central nervous system including multiple sclerosisEma Kantorova, Comenius University, Slovakia

Title: Contributions to excessive gestational weight gain among African American womenSara Edwards, Emory University, USA

Title: Bone mineral density and body weight in Hepatitis C chronic liver disease patientsAmin Roshidy Soliman, Cairo University, Egypt

Title: Why did we not be able to halve the concomitant pandemics of obesity, diabetes and coronary heart disease?Jose Mario F de Oliveira, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil

Title: Metabolic syndrome: Risk factors and predictors among adults in Saudi ArabiaNaji J Aljohani, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences Saudi Arabia

Title: Defense of increased body weight against caloric restriction in diet-induced obesity: the role of relaxin-3 Elena Timofeeva, Laval University, Canada

Title: The independent effects of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes on the pregnancy outcomesHayfaa Wahabi, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Title: Eating for a vibrant LifeSM - Empowering obese patients to reverse their condition through an evidence-based intensive lifestyle interventionAndrea Bloom, ConnectWell, USA

Title: Prevalence of obesity among university employees and their families in Saudi ArabiaRasmieh Alzeidan, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Title: Momodica charantia improves hyperglycemia and left ventricular histology of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar ratsO A Komolafe, University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Title: Association of gestational diabetes and obesity during pregnancyArpita Chakraborty, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India

Title: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass decreases pro-inflammatory and thrombotic biomarkers in individuals with extreme obesityBárbara Dal Molin Netto, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil

Title: Waist cut-off values to predict diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension risk in Arab adultsNaji J Aljohani, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences Saudi Arabia


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Changes in liver metabolism in Mg2+ deficiency: Implications for NAFLD and metabolic syndromeAndrea M P Romani, Chesinta Voma, Lauren Keenan, Coleen Croniger and Michelle PuckowicCase Western Reserve University, USA

Metabolic Syndrome, a pathological condition affecting approximately one-third of the USA population, is characterized by obesity, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and hypertension among other medical conditions, and represents the

single most common condition predisposing to diabetes and hypertension. Within this contest, liver steatosis is considered the hepatic representation of the disease and is currently classified as NAFLD. Hypomagnesaemia has been consistently observed in association with metabolic syndrome, and recent data from our laboratory suggest low Mg2+ level in the circulation and within the hepatocytes promotes dysmetabolic conditions typical of the metabolic syndrome. Rats exposed for 2 weeks to a 40% Mg2+ deficient diet present a 2-3 fold increase in intrahepatic triglyceride content associated with a marked increase in numerous genes involved in fatty acid synthesis including IRS2, SREBP1c, PPARγ, FAS, LCAD, HMG-CoA reductase and HMG-CoA synthethase. PPAR-α, instead remained unaltered. The upregulation of IRS2 contrasted the downregulation of IRS-1 and pAkt, leading to decreased glucose accumulation, and attenuated insulin signaling. As a result of this altered signaling Fox-01 remained active and resulted in the upregulation of the gluconeogenic genes PEPCK and F, 16 BPase. Additionally, the reticular hexose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PD) and the coupled 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11-β-HSD1) were both 3-4 fold upregulated in gene and protein expression, resulting in the significant production of intraluminal NADPH and cortisol levels. Taken together, our results provide compelling evidence that reduced extracellular Mg2+ level precedes and promotes metabolic syndrome onset in that: 1) liver metabolism undergoes a switch from glucose-based to fatty acid-based synthesis with minimal changes in catabolism, resulting in the increased deposition of intrahepatic triglycerides; 2) increased cortisol production, and 3) reduced insulin responsiveness. The majority of these gene dysregulation trended towards renormalization following the restoration of normal extracellular and cellular Mg2+ content.

BiographyAndrea M P Romani, MD, PhD obtained his medical degree from the University of Siena, Italy and his PhD from the University of Turin, Italy. He completed his postdoctoral studies under Dr. Scarpa, in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. He is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. He has published almost 90 peer review articles in high profile journals together with numerous invited reviews and book chapters. He is currently serving as an Editorial Board Member for Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Magnesium Research, World Journal of Gastro-Intestinal Physio-Pathology among others.

[email protected]

Andrea M P Romani et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Lipogenic diet-induced alteration of microRNAs in hepatic stress signaling: Implications for hepatic lipoprotein metabolism and insulin resistanceQiaozhu SuUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

Emerging evidence has demonstrated the important role of microRNAs in energy metabolism and their participation in excessive caloric intake-induced metabolic syndrome. The consequences of the altered microRNAs, however, have not

been well explored. The present study sought to advance our understanding of the potential association between reduced expression of microRNAs induced by high-fructose diet in the initiation of cellular stress signaling and their contribution to the onset of dyslipidemia and hepatic insulin resistance. By applying nutrition manipulated animal models, the high-fructose fed-rat and hamster models, and human apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) transgenic mice, we were able to demonstrate that high-fructose diet significantly reduced expression of 13 hepatic microRNAs that are associated with genes involved in inflammatory cell differentiation and lipid signaling, including microRNA-15 and microRNA-378/378*. These phenotypes were closely associated with disruption of mitochondrial membrane integrity, induction of oxidative stress and activation of mitochondrial unfolding protein response (UPR). In vitro, delivering the microRNAs isolated from the livers of fructose fed-hamsters into McA-7777 cells, a rat hepatoma cell line, induced activation of mitochondrial UPR. Further investigating the lipid and lipoprotein metabolic profiles of the fructose-fed rats, we noticed that the reduced microRNA expression was associated with overproduction of hepatic apoB100, increased secretion of hepatic VLDL-apoB, and the development of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. Our finding unveils a novel role for microRNAs in maintaining metabolic homeostasis of intracellular stress-responding machinery (e.g. mitochondria). It also provides evidence for exploring microRNAs as pharmaceutical targets for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome derived from nutrient–surplus.

BiographyQiaozhu Su received her PhD from McGill University in 2007 and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Qiaozhu has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals and served as an editorial board member for several professional journals. Her research interests include lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, mechanism of metabolic syndrome, with a particular emphasis on the role of microRNAs, ER and mitochondrial stress in obesity, fatty liver disease and insulin resistance.

[email protected]

Qiaozhu Su, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

The effect of dietary food patterns on adiposity and cardiometabolic risks in growing adolescents - A finding from a population-based study in MalaysiaLeng Huat Foo Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia

Dietary food pattern analysis has increasingly been used to capture the complexities of diet and the risk of chronic diseases in adults, but limited information is available among adolescents. The aim of this presentation was to investigate the

effects of dietary food patterns on adiposity and metabolic risks among 445 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years in Malaysia. Dietary pattern analysis was determined using validated food frequency questionnaires. Body composition profiles were assessed by anthropometry and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively and cardiometabolic risk profiles were determined by blood biochemical analyses and blood pressure parameters. Using principal component analysis, three dietary patterns were identified, ‘healthy’ (characterized by a high proportion of fruits, vegetables and dairy products), ‘western-based’ (high in animal-derived and processed foods), and ‘typical’. After adjusting for biological, dietary and lifestyle factors, multivariate analyses showed that high intake of western-based diet was associated with significantly higher BMI, abdominal fat, total fat mass (TFM) and percent body fat (%BF), and cardiometabolic risk parameters compared with lower intake of the same diet (at least; p<0.05). In contrast, high intake of healthy diet pattern was associated with significantly lower BMI, TFM, %BF and cardiometabolic risks than those at lower healthy diet pattern. No such associations were found between the typical diet pattern and body composition profiles, except for blood pressure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that adolescents who had higher intake of western-based diet pattern had increased risk of being obese (OR: 7.6, p<0.001), whereas adolescents eating a healthy diet had a lower risk of being obese (OR: 5.0, p<0.001). The present findings suggest that high intake of ‘healthy’ diet and low intake of “western-based diet” were associated with significantly lower adiposity and obesity risk, which may exerts adverse effects on their health outcomes. Hence, encouragement of healthy dietary eating during childhood and adolescence should be emphasized to prevent adverse health effects in these critical years of growth.

BiographyLeng Huat Foo has completed his PhD from the University of Sydney, Australia. He is currentlya senior lecturer at the Programme of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. His main research interests are focused on nutritional epidemiology, nutritional interventions, and nutritional and lifestyle assessments on chronic disease risk development throughout life spans. He has been published 60 peer-reviewed scientific journals and proceedings of the scientific meetings both in national and international levels and authors of three invited international textbook chapter writing. In addition, he has been an invited speaker at numerous national and international conferences.

[email protected]

Leng Huat Foo, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) - Metabolic responses including obesity and diabetesHaim Abraham, Sinam Boynao, Tal Ofir and Younis MohamadUniversity of Haifa, Israel

Throughout evolution, terrestrial organisms were adapted to light/dark cycles of 24 h which reflect the rotation of our plant on its axis. These cycles are used by the different organisms for the entrainment of their endogenous biological clock.

Furthermore, the movement of the planet around the sun results in seasonality. The most environmental dramatic change that took place on our plant starting some 140 years ago is the transformation of electric energy into artificial light thus eliminating the light/dark cycles and seasonality, where photophase does not differ any more between seasons. No doubt that this change brought with it a major change in human lifestyle however, it takes time before the negative impacts, resulting in an increase in human health risk can be assessed. For several years we studied the relations between exposure to Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) and Metabolic-disorders. In the last decays with the introduction of short wavelength illumination (SWL) a further increase in health risk was noted. Results of several experiments carried out on laboratory animals showed that exposure to ALAN suppresses the Pineal-gland melatonin (MLT) production, a hormone produced under dark conditions during the night. As in our research centre we have been studying a diurnal rodent, the fat sand rat Psammomys obesus, as a model for humans, we can show that ALAN of SWL interferes with metabolic processes we suggest that these changes are through epigenetic modifications. If this is the case, if this is the case the nexus SWL-ALAN via MLT-suppression should be studied.

BiographyHaim Abraham is Full-professor (1996) UH, Israel. He completed PhD from HUJ, Israel, Postdoctoral MRI, UP, South Africa, (Ecophysiologist Chronobiologist). He studied thermoregulation in desert-adapted rodents, revealing the importance of non-shivering-thermogenesis, as a mechanism compensating for their lower metabolic-rates, seasonality and daily-rhythms of body-temperature and metabolic-rates. He is head of several departments, as a dean he established the faculty of Natural- Sciences,vice-president, "The Israel Lighting association". He has published over 160-papers in pre-reviewed journals and is one of the authors of the book "Light Pollution as New Risk Factor for Human Breast and Prostate Cancer".

[email protected]

Haim Abraham et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Role of adipokines in immune-mediated disorders of central nervous system including multiple sclerosisEma Kantorova1, Daniel Čierny1, Pavla Petrova2, Tomáš Adam2, Jozef Michalik1 and Egon Kurča1

1Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia2Faculty Hospital in Olomouc, Czech Republic

Introduction: Immune-mediated disorders of central nervous system (CNS) have experienced a dramatic increase in industrialized countries. Multiple sclerosis (MS) as a most common chronic disabling inflammatory-autoimmune demyelinating disease of the CNS affects genetically susceptible individuals. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that genetic susceptibility interacts with lifestyle and environmental and immunological factors in determining the risk of developing autoimmunity. Epidemiological observations have supported the role of vitamin D, sunlight exposure (encouraging endogenous production of vitamin D), the role of several infectious agents, socioeconomic status, smoking and environmental pollutants in determining the risk of developing autoimmunity, including MS. Role of a diet and hormones as being potent modulators of MS risk have been also investigating. High rate of overweight and obesity in population have awakened the interest of understanding a role of adipose tissue and adipokines as novel biomarkers or autoimmune disorders of central nervous system. The link between adipose-tissues-released factors and immune-mediated autoimmune disorders require high degree of suspicion. The white adipose tissue, long regarded as an inert energy storage tissue, has been recognized to be an essential endocrine organ, secreting a wide variety of soluble mediators termed “adipokines”. Adipokines previously associated with atherosclerosis, vascular pathology, metabolic syndrome, and risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders have been implicated in innate and aquired immune processes both in animals and humans. Altered adipokine levels have been observed in a variety of inflammatory conditions, although their pathogenic role has not been completely clarified. Among them leptin, adiponectine, resistin and visfatin belong to the most frequently evaluated adipokines.

Material and methods: In our study we targeted relationship between adipokines (leptin and adiponectine), excess of adipose-tissue mass, and lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) with disease activity in mutliple sclerosis pacients. The information was enriched with genetic background of examined patients. Presence of both HLA antigen DQB1a, 1b and HLA antigen DRB1 together with single nucleotid polymorphism rs 3135388, strongly specific markers of genetic succesability ro MS, were involved into analyses. Total of 74 patients (60 female, 14 male) completed the study. The mean age in the group was 40.8±10.5, disease duration 11.1 ±4.8. Rate of disability was 3.7±1.4 (range 0-10) (measured by Kurtzke "expanded disability status scale" (EDSS). Higher EDSS corresponds with more pronounced disability. Body mass index (BMI) was used to evaluate adipose-tissue-mass, mean value was 25.3±5.6. Cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels were noted. Leptin and adiponectin were tested ELISA method (Biovendor). Statistical analysis included nonparametric Kendall-tau b test.

Results: We found significant association of higher leptin with higher EDSS (r=0.22, p=0.006), and lower adiponectin with higher EDSS (r=- 0.17, p=0.036). Both leptin and adiponectin were associated with BMI. But only lower adiponectin, not leptin, correlated with the carriage of HLADRB1 and rs 3135388 A (r=0.16, p=0.053), conferring a threefold higher risk of multiple sclerosis. However hypercholesterolemia, reported as most common comorbidity in MS, also strongly correlated with HLADRB1 (r=0.17, p=0.031), and rs3135388 (r=0.21, p=0.01).

Conclusion: Both lower adiponectin and higher leptin correlated with severer disease disabilit in multiple sclerosis patients. We concluded obesity as being the potential important epigenetic factor in MS pathogenesis. Adiponectin, more than leptin is associated with genetic susceptibility resulting in neurological disability in MS patients. Hypercholesterolemia is also associated with genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Precise role of adipokines in immune processes contributing into MS pathogenesis require future studies.

BiographyEma Kantorova's specialization is neurology and she finished PhD study last year (2011) and now she is a teacher, an Assistant Professor and postdoctoral fellow of the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine Comenius University in Martin. She studied medicine in Faculty of Medicine in Palacky University, Czech Republic. She live and work in Slovakia, Martin.

[email protected]

Ema Kantorova et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Contributions to excessive gestational weight gain among African American womenSara Edwards Emory University, USA

Nearly two-thirds of US women of childbearing age are overweight or obese and nearly half, once pregnant, gain excess gestational weight. In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published new recommendations for pre-pregnancy body

mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG). The most restrictive weight gain recommendation category is for pre-pregnant obese women to gain between 11-20 pounds. This restrictive recommendation presents a particular challenge for African-American (AA) women, who are more likely than women of other races to enter pregnancy overweight or obese. The age-adjusted prevalence is 75% of AA women of childbearing age entering pregnancy overweight or obese, the highest of all races. Given that the strongest predictor of excessive GWG is prepregnant BMI and 68% of AA women gain excessively, research is beginning to focus upon racial differences in pre-pregnant weight and GWG.Women who start their pregnancies overweight are six times more likely than those of healthy weight to gain more than recommended. As BMI increases, folate levels decrease, directly contributing to an increased incidence of birth defects. Excessive GWG and postpartum weight retention are important predictors of lifelong obesity and are associated with multiple obstetric complications. With the exception of gestational diabetes, all the most serious complications are more common among AA women, contributing to AAs having the highest national rates of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Scientific scrutiny of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to excessive GWGin this population is needed and the current state of the science will be presented.

BiographySara Edwards is a third-year doctoral student at Emory University and has 20 years of clinical expertise as a nurse-midwife. She has taught undergraduate and graduate nursing at Emory for over ten years, primarily in maternal-child health. Her research interests includebio behavioral influences (especially the Brain-Gut Axis) on gestational weight gain and the impact these factors have on racial health disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes and chronic diseases.

[email protected]

Sara Edwards, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Bone mineral density and body weight in hepatitis C chronic liver disease patientsAmin Roshidy SolimanCairo University, Egypt

Objective: To study the influence of body mass index on bone mineral density in patients with Hepatitis C chronic liver disease.

Design: Cross-sectional study with time span for inclusion set at 5 years.

Subjects and Methods: One hundred and ninety three males with chronic liver disease (CLD) due to hepatitis C virus infection (116 underweight and 77 normal weight) were included. Bone mineral density (BMD) was evaluated at hip and lumbar spine and correlated to body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), serum biomarkers and serum vitamin D concentration.

Results: BMD of the right hip and the femoral neck in under and normal weight patients were (0.852±0.117 versus 0.930±0.123, P=0.002 and 0.736±0.119 versus 0.812±0.132, P=0.004 respectively), and the underweight subjects had lower BMD of the right hip (0.725±0.141 versus 0.805±0.145, P=0.002 in normal weight CLD patients even after adjusted for weight, BMI, waist, HDL, and ALT. There were no significant differences between liver functions and viral titer in both groups. Subnormal calcidiol levels were present in 64% of the underweight patients and 51% of the normal-weight patients. The resulting models of linear regression showed that for the lumbar spine T scores model, the total variation of 21% was explained by the group i.e. underweight/normal weight and by age. For the femur neck T scores model, the total variation of 25.4% was explained by the interaction of underweight and vitamin D deficiency.

Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is common in both groups examined but only in the underweight patients, an association between vitamin D deficiency and reduced femur neck T scores is indicated. Therefore, weight exerts a detrimental effect on BMD in males with Hepatitis C chronic liver disease.

BiographyAmin Roshdy Soliman is Chairman of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Head of 31st Department of Medicine, Chief of Clinical Nutrition Faculty of Medicine Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, Head of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, French University Specialized hospital Cairo Egypt. He has completed his PhD at the age of 31 from Cairo University and postdoctoral studies from USC University School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA. He has published more than 75 papers in reputed journals and serving as an editorial board member of local, regional and international journals.

[email protected]

Amin Roshidy Soliman, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Why did we not be able to halve the concomitant pandemics of obesity, diabetes and coronary heart disease?Jose Mario F de OliveiraUniversidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil

The pandemics of obesity and its complications like diabetes, and coronary heart disease, not to mention other diseases like cancer, hypertension, and chronic kidney diseases could well be defined as a modern plague largely brought on by. The

panacea of Non-Communicable Diseases has been the biggest drug industry’s win with polypharmacy based namely on poorly surrogates outcomes easily achieved on short-term or biased clinical trials, such as pre-hypertension, microalbuminuria, carotid intima thickness and etc...

The complexities of promoting healthy diets and healthy lifestyles even at the workplaces, and childhood are reduced to policies of ‘Overdiagnosis, Overtreatment and Polyphramacy under the Paradigm of “The Lower the Better’’, with the artificial creation of “new’’ diseases like ‘pre-hypertension’ and ‘pre-diabetes’.

For this so close companions as Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Coronary Heart Disease the affluent evidence points against intensive glycaemic control in diabetes, useless for micro, and macrovascular disease, these last ones the most disabling and more prevalent obese and diabetic complications. Recent Evidence, also points to less polypharmacy for hypertension and dyslipidaemia (JNC8th Hypertension Report and The BMJ Criticism to the New US Statins Guidelines).

And Finally, Healthy Lifestyles, and Diets with at most 5% or less of Sugar daily consumption also should make easier the fight against all these Non-Communicable Diseases like the pandemics of Obesity, Diabetes, and Coronary Heart Disease.

BiographyJose Mario Franco de Oliveira, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine of Universidade Federal Fluminense, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a Certified, Nephrologist, Preventative Cardiologist, and Adult Intensive Care Unit Physician. He has published numerous articles and letters to the editor in journals like The New England Journal of Medicine, The British Medical Journal, Hypertension, American Journal of Hypertension, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, and etc. He is also a reviewer for a number of journals & a Deputy Editor for Diabetes at The British Medical Journal.

[email protected]

Jose Mario F de Oliveira, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Metabolic syndrome: Risk factors and predictors among adults in Saudi ArabiaNaji AljohaniKSAU-HS, Saudi Arabia

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of established cardiovascular risk factors that collectively increase predisposition to major chronic diseases including heart diseases and diabetes mellitus. Citizens of developing countries such as Saudi Arabia are at risk for MetS secondary to industrialization and accessibility to fast foods. In this epidemiologic study, the kingdom-wide prevalence of MetS is determined.

Methods: A total of 4578 Saudis aged 15-64 were randomly selected from 20 regions all over Saudi Arabia. Anthropometrics were collected and fasting blood samples collected ascertaining fasting blood glucose and lipid profile. Components of full MetS as defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) were used for screening.

Results: The over-all prevalence of MetS is 28.3%. Males had a significantly higher prevalence than females (31.4 versus 25.2%; p=0.001). Prevalence of MetS showed a parallel increase with age, and inversely with educational status as well as income. Region also played a significant contributor to MetS.

Conclusion: Despite accumulating evidence of an epidemic, MetS remains largely unresolved in the kingdom. Aggressive pubic campaign and policies should be implemented to control future damage of MetS in the kingdom.

BiographyNaji Aljohani, MD, ABIM, FRCP, is an endocrinologist consultant and assistant professor at the Specialized Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Faculty of Medicine in King Fahad Medical City, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is also a board member of the Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis in King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Director of Diabetes Prevention in the Saudi Diabetes Association. He obtained his fellowship at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and thyroid fellowship at University of Toronto, Canada. He has authored/co-authored several peer-reviewed papers and has been an invited speaker in both national and international conferences in the fields of endocrinology, obesity and vitamin D.

[email protected]

Naji Aljohani, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Defense of increased body weight against caloric restriction in diet-induced obesity: The role of relaxin-3Elena TimofeevaLaval University, Canada

Obesity is a multi-factorial disorder that generally develops on the polygenetic basis in an obesogenic environment. An animal model related to human obesity is diet-induced obesity in rats. The rats placed on a high-energy diet show wide

distribution in body weight with a subset of animals developing diet-induced obesity (DIO) and the remaining animals showing a diet-resistant (DR) phenotype. Once obesity is established, DIO rats strongly defend their increased body weight against caloric restriction. The neuronal mechanisms involved in the defence of increased body weight in the DIO rats are not yet completely understood. Our results suggest that an orexigenic neuropeptide relaxin-3 may be involved in the mechanisms of defence of elevated body weight against caloric restriction in DIO rats. Expression of relaxin-3 and its specific receptor RXFP3 mRNAs were assessed by in situ hybridization in ad libitum, food-deprived and refed DIO and DR rats. The brain levels of expression of relaxin-3 were higher in the DIO rats compared to the DR rats in the ad libitum-fed state. The stronger expression of relaxin-3 in the ad libitum-fed state in the DIO rats was accompanied by low expression of the RXFP3 receptor. However, refeeding significantly increased expression of RXFP3 in the DIO rats. These results provide evidence that DIO rats show a constitutive increase in relaxin-3 brain expression and that refeeding after food deprivation may enhance the orexigenic effects of relaxin-3 in DIO rats by rapid upregulation of the expression of RXFP3 in the brain regions involved in food intake regulation.

BiographyElena Timofeeva is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Laval University (Quebec, Canada). After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Odessa State University (Ukraine) she has completed her master’s (1997) and PhD (2001) degrees in the Department of Physiology at the Laval University (Quebec, Canada). Dr. Timofeeva performed her post-doctoral studies (2001-2005) at the Mental Health University Institute (Quebec, Canada). Dr. Timofeeva has published 4 book chapters and 38 research papers. She is director of the Laboratory of Stress and Feeding (www.timofeeva-stress-feeding-lab.ca). Her laboratory studies the neuronal mechanisms of food intake in eating disorders and obesity.

[email protected]

Elena Timofeeva, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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The independent effects of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes on the pregnancy outcomesHayfaa A WahabiKing Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Obesity and gestational diabetes (GDM) in pregnancy are recognized risk factors for adverse outcomes, including cesarean section (CS), macrosomia and preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate the independent effect of GDM and

obesity on the adverse pregnancy outcomes at term. A retrospective cohort of postpartum women, in King Khalid University Hospital, were stratified according to body mass index (obese ≥30 kg/m2, non-obese <30 kg/m2) and the results of GDM screening into the following groups, women with no obesity and no GDM (reference group), women with no obesity but with GDM, women with obesity but no GDM and women with both GDM and obesity. Adverse pregnancy outcomes included high birth weight, macrosomia, CS delivery and preeclampsia. Multiple logistic regression used to examine independent associations of GDM and obesity with macrosomia and CS. 2701 women were included, 44% of them were obese and 15% had GDM. 63% of the women with GDM were obese. There was significant increase in the percentage of macrosomia, P<0.001, high birth weight, P<0.001, CS, P<0.001 and preeclampsia, P<0.001 in women with GDM and obesity compared to the reference group. Obesity increased the estimated risk of CS delivery, odds ratio (OR) 2.16, confidence intervals (CI) 1.74-2.67. The combination of GDM and obesity increased the risk of macrosomia OR 3.45, CI 2.05-5.81 and the risk of CS delivery OR 2.26, CI 1.65-3.11. In conclusion maternal obesity and GDM were independently associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The combination of both conditions further increase the risk.

BiographyHayfaa A Wahabi is an Associate Professor in the Chair of Evidence-based Healthcare and Knowledge Translation, King Saud University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). She is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists of England and holds a PhD in maternal epidemiology from Warwick University. She has published more than 20 papers in high impact journals including systematic reviews which influenced policy and practice in maternity services all over the world. She is a member of editorial board of many reputable journals.

[email protected]

Hayfaa A Wahabi, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Eating for a vibrant LifeSM - empowering obese patients to reverse their condition through an evidence-based intensive lifestyle interventionAndrea BloomConnectWell, USA

The global obesity epidemic has been fueled by the changes in what we are eating and drinking and how much and the frequency at which we consume food products and beverages. The food environments and the foods and beverages that

are readily available and affordable have propelled this epidemic across the globe and impacted people from all walks of life. The co-morbidities associated with obesity have serious health consequences that negatively impacts quality of life. With lasting lifestyle changes related to food, drinking and eating, people can reverse the co-morbidities associated with obesity and reclaim their lives. ConnectWell’s obesity, diabetes and nutrition experts include Robert Lustig, MD UCSF and Luis Rodriguez, RD, CNSC, UCSF who have extensive experience in treating obese patients and their families. ConnectWell’s Eating for a Vibrant Program is an evidence-based intensive lifestyle intervention program that engages obese and overweight participants along with their families in lifestyle habits that drive healthy eating and drinking behaviors. The program cultivates the skill set to create a food environment that supports healthy lifelong behaviors around food and eating. Eating for a Vibrant Life is a group-based program and includes: 15 interactive sessions led by a registered dietitian; a proprietary workbook with surveys, frameworks and activities that are reinforced through small group sessions; support tools that facilitate action planning and provide healthy eating habits for the whole family; buddy matching for additional support; and access to the registered dietitian throughout the program. Eating for a Vibrant Life is available for licensing to health systems and providers to be used to treat their obese and overweight patient population. ConnectWell provides training on how to use the Eating for a Vibrant Life Program to ensure that registered dietitians are successful in program implementation and in their work to improve the health outcomes of their patients.

BiographyAndrea Bloom’s focus on obesity stems from her experience working for Johnson & Johnson’s diabetes division where she developed a deep understanding of the lifestyle factors that lead to obesity and its co-morbidities. Andrea is Founder and CEO of ConnectWell, a wellness company that works with worksites, physicians and healthcare providers to engage participants in sustainable wellness practices to improve health outcomes. She is a sought out innovator in wellness and has spoken at the Wellness Rewards Congress, NCHRA Total Rewards Conference, Haas Healthcare and Women in Leadership Conferences, and Stanford Business School. Andrea is a research affiliate with Institute for the Future, a leading think tank in Palo Alto, California. As part of their Health Horizons practice area, she is an active contributor to their research on the future of health and healthcare. Andrea received her MBA from Harvard Business School and her BA in Economics from University of California, Berkeley.

[email protected]

Andrea Bloom, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Prevalence of obesity among university employees and their families in Saudi ArabiaAlzeidan R A1 and Rabiee F2

King Saud University, KSA Birmingham City University, UK

Background: Obesity is major public health issue in both developed and developing countries and is a key risk factor for many non-communicable diseases particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, some types of cancer and osteoarthritis. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC; Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates) countries have one of the highest prevalence of overweight and obese adults ranging from 25-50% and 10-60% respectively. Saudi Arabia has the second highest prevalence of overweight (35%) and obesity (50%) after Kuwait. Using a cross sectional study design, the WHO Stepwise tools are utilized to collect data from 4500 university employees and their families over 18 years old during May 2013 to April 2014. Findings showed the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the study population was 33%, of which 36% respectively. The study population consisted Saudis (68%), Arab non-Saudi (24%) and South Asian (7%). Obesity was significantly higher among the females in Saudis (p=0.001) and Arab non- Saudi groups (P= 0.006), while no significant gender differences observed in South Asian group. In all groups the pattern of obesity increased with age. The obese population in all groups had higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors than normal. For example the obese Saudis population had 2.1 folds hypertension (odds ratio 2.1 95% CI=1.80-2, 42, P=<0.001), 1.5 fold diabetes (odds ratio 1.5 95% CI=1.25-1.69, P=<0.001) and 3 fold hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio 3.1 95% CI=2.69-3.60, P=<0.001) than normal. Such high prevalence of overweight and obesity among the university their family requires an urgent action from the university administration in establishing preventive programme including diet and physical activity interventions.

BiographyAlzeidan R A is a PhD student in Birmingham City University (BCU)-UK, has a master degree in healthcare management and BSc in pharmacy. She is working as clinical researcher in King Saud University- College of Medicine-Department of Cardiology. She has published several peer-reviewed papers and she presented her research projects in regional, national and international conferences.

[email protected]

Alzeidan R A et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Momodica charantia improves hyperglycemia and left ventricular histology of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar ratsO A Komolafe, D A Ofusori, O S Adewole, A O Ayoka and A A AbiodunObafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

The present study examined the effects of Momordica charantia on symptoms of diabetes, hyperglycemia and histology of the heart of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Forty healthy adult Wistar rats of both sexes, were randomly assigned

into five groups A, B, C, D and E of eight rats each. Group A were the control (normal rats); B were the experimentally-induced diabetic rats; C were diabetic rats treated with methanolic extracts of M. charantia for two weeks (withdrawal group); D were diabetic rats treated with methanolic extracts of M. charantia for four weeks. E was diabetic rats treated glimepiride for four weeks. Physical changes, body weight and fasting blood glucose were monitored through the experimental period. Results showed a non significant difference (p>0.05) in the average body weight of C group when compared with the diabetic group. Groups D and E showed significant increase (p<0.05) in the mean body weights when compared with the rats in groups A, B and C. Blood glucose of C increased significantly after two weeks of extract withdrawal, while D and E rats maintained normoglycemic levels. Histological studies revealed that M. charantia and glimperide restored the disorganized myofibrils of the left ventricle observed in diabetic rats.

BiographyO A Komolafe has received her PhD in Anatomy at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile -Ife Osun State, Nigeria in May 2012. Currently, she is a senior lecturer, working as a postdoctoral scholar in the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy, Laboratory of Medicine & Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. She has successfully completed her Administrative responsibilities as Departmental coordinator for Year 3 Medical & Dental students 2011-2014 and Chairman, Departmental welfare committee. Her research has included Diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular, Electron microscopy, Histology & Histochemistry, Immunohistochemistry and Pre-eclampsia. Based on this research and fellowship training, she has received several awards and honors, such as: Carnegie New York for female academic staff 2011, TET funding Awards 2012 and Postdoctoral scholarship 2013. She has authored a reasonable number of research articles in reputable international journals to her credit. She is a member of Placental Research Group South Africa, Anatomical Society of Nigeria, Diabetes Research OAU.

[email protected], [email protected]

O A Komolafe et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Association of gestational diabetes and obesity during pregnancyArpita ChakrabortyInstitute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India

Aim: The objective of this study was to examine whether pregnant obese women had anythreat for budding gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and other complications such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and foetal macrosomia.

Methods: Fifty-seven women participated in this study and followed until delivery. 19 women were over obese (BMI >30 kg/m2), 14 women were obese (BMI ≥26-30 kg/m2) and the 24 women had normal weight (BMI>18.5-23 kg/m2). Maternal demographic data, obstetric and neonatal outcomes from each group were compared to each other. Relative risk and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Conclusion: Our findings specify that high maternal weight wasrelated with a significantly higher risk of GDM

BiographyArpita Chakraborty is currently working as DST YOUNG SCIENTIST in the department of Endocrinology, IPGME&R, Kolkata, India. She has obtained PhD from department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta. Prior to joining IPGME&R in 2013, she has worked as a research scholar with renowned scientist Prof. Dhrubajyoti Chattapadhya and Prof Maitrayee Bhattacharya. She has received several fellowships like RFSMS fellowship from UGC (2007-2010), World Bank fellowship in 2010-2013, DST FAST TRACK fellowship from Department of Science and Technology in 2013. In 2009, she participated in prestigious “Young explorer in Indian Biology”, organized by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. She has also won several awards for her works, e.g., 1st prize in 37th Annual Conference of RSSDI., young endocrinologist award in ICE-ECE conference held in Florence, Italy in 2012 etc. Apart from that, she has numerous publications in various peer reviewed journals. She has also authored in a book.

[email protected]

Arpita Chakraborty, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Roux-en-Y gastric bypass decreases pro-inflammatory and thrombotic biomarkers in individuals with extreme obesityBárbara Dal Molin Netto1, Solange Cravo Bettini2, Ana Paula Grotti Clemente1, Joana Pereira de Carvalho Ferreira1, Katia Boritza2, Sandy de Fátima Souza3, Maria Emilia Von der Heyde3, Carrie P Earthman4 and Ana Raimunda Dâmaso1

1UNIFESP, Brazil2Hospital de Clínicas, Brazil3Federal University of Paraná, Brazil4University of Minnesota, USA

Introduction: The low-grade inflammatory state in obesity leads to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, all of which promote cardiovascular diseases in individuals with obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early effects of weight loss, achieved through bariatric surgery on the inflammatory and prothrombotic states. Additionally, our aim was to identify the role of hyperleptinemia on the prothrombotic state.

Methods: The sample was composed of 41 extremely obese patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Anthropometric and clinical data, and biochemical markers of inflammation were collected prior to, as well as 6 months post-RYGB.

Results: It was found that higher plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations among extremely obese individuals with hyperleptinemia when compared with individuals without hyperleptinemia (p<0.01). In relation to the baseline, postsurgery BMI was reduced by 12.9 kg/m2, corresponding to 61.73% of excess weight loss. Also, were found decreased significantly in waist circumference from 126.23 to 101.24 cm, total cholesterol (p<0.01), LDL cholesterol (p=0.02), triglycerides (p<0.01) and glucose (p=0.01). In regards to pro-inflammatory biomarkers were observed a decrease on the PAI-1 of 55.88±6.02% (p<0.01), C reactive protein (CPR) 18.8±3.38% (p<0.01), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) 89.91±5.7% (p<0.01), leptin 27.86±3.22% (p<0.01) and resistin 69.29±5.8% (p<0.01). Indeed, we also observed significant decreases of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and leptin/adiponectin ratio. Anti-inflammatory cytokines adiponectin and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were significantly increased [170.71±82.50%, p<0.01; 122.71±55.05%, p=0.02]. CRP levels were predictor of ICAM-1 (p=0.04) and changes in leptin concentrations were predictor decreased PAI-1 levels (p=0.03).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that obesity per se is associated with a prothrombotic state and patients with hyperleptinemia have been major cardiovascular risk factors. Hence, the RYGB was effective in early reducing pro-inflammatory and thrombotic risk in individuals with extreme obesity.

BiographyBárbara Dal Molin Netto completed her graduation in Nutrition from Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUC-PR) in 2006, Curitiba, Brazil. She received a Master’s degree from Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianopolis, Brazil, in the Post-Graduation Program in Clinical Nutrition. Currently, she is a senior doctoral student at Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in the Post-Graduation Program in Nutrition. Previously, she taught during 2 years at the department of Nutrition at Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. Her expertise includes bariatric surgery, nutritional management of obese individuals and its related chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases.

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Bárbara Dal Molin Netto et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Waist cut-off values to predict diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension risk in Arab adultsNaji J Aljohani King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia

Background: Obesity is considered a major risk factor for diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. Identifying people at highest risk through ethnically appropriate waist circumference (WC) cut-off points was the main target of this study.

Methods: Data were randomly collected nationwide and analyzed from a cross-sectional study of 4350 Saudi adults aged 15- 64 years using a stratified, multi-stage, cluster random sampling technique. DM subjects were either known cases or subjects with fasting blood glucose ≥7.0mmol/L. Hypertension was determined as having systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg. Waist circumference (WC) in cm was measured midway between the lower costal margin and iliac crest during the end-expiratory phase.

Results: Mean age for the study subjects was: 36.55±12.99 years (37.5±13.9 years for males; 35.6±11.96 for females). The mean waist circumference for all subjects was 92.75±13.65 cm (95.2±14.01 cm for males versus 89.9+12.6cm for females; p<0.001). The prevalence of DM was 23.8% for all subjects. The prevalence of hypertension among all subjects was 25.5%. ROC curve was done and revealed that WC cutoff points for DM risk are 97 cm and 91 cm for men and women respectively and for hypertension are 97 cm and 90 cm again for men and women respectively.

Conclusion: Findings of the present study recommend that the Arab population utilize a much lower WC in identifying patients at risk for DMT2 and hypertension. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these observations.

BiographyNaji Aljohani, MD, ABIM, FRCP, is an endocrinologist consultant and Assistant Professor at the Specialized Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Faculty of Medicine in King Fahad Medical City, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is also a board member of the Prince Mutaib Chair for Biomarkers of Osteoporosis in King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Director of Diabetes Prevention in the Saudi Diabetes Association. He obtained his fellowship at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and thyroid fellowship at University of Toronto, Canada. He has authored/co-authored several peer-reviewed papers and has been an invited speaker in both national and international conferences in the fields of endocrinology, obesity and vitamin D.

[email protected]

Naji J Aljohani, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020


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Obesity-2014





Day 3 December 03, 2014Track 7, 8, 9 & 10

Session ChairYoonjung ParkUniversity of Houston, USA

Session Co-ChairAnnie ThomasLoyola University Chicago, USA

Title: Anthropometric indicators for assessing health risk of obesity in native American adolescents and exploratory data analysisShasha Zheng, California Baptist University, USA

Title: The role of the prostaglandin PGE2 in pancreatic β-cell death in the context of type 2 diabetesDanielle Melloul, Hadassah University Hospital, Israel

Title: Endocannabinoid control of gut-brain hunger signalingNicholas V Di Patrizio, University of California, USA

Title: Epigenetic regulation of IGF-IGFR Signaling by H19 non-coding RNA in adult stem cellsLinheng Li, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA

Title: Metabolic syndrome among university employees and their families in Saudi ArabiaRasmieh Alzeidan, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Title: Estimating the distribution of usual intake of nutrients via asymmetric modelsJosé Eduardo Corrente, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Title: Does poor nutrition affect the overweight or obesity prerequisites for physical load in children? Václav Bunc, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Czech Republic

Title: Genome-wide expression analysis in hypothalamus of obese mice fed a high fat dietMargarita C Curras-Collazo, University of California, USA

Title: Overview of pediatric obesity managementAnn O Scheimann, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA

Title: Fructose vs. fat: Which is worse?Poonamjot Deol, University of California, USA

Title: Role of pattern recognition receptors and inflammatory mediators following gut microbiota alteration in high sugar diet mediated type 2 diabetesBhumika Prajapati, Nirma University, India

Title: Sleep deprivation or sleep disorder lead to obesityKolsoom Parvaneh, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Title: Dyslipidemia and dysglycemia in non-human primates Yong-Fu Xiao, Crown Bioscience Inc., China

Title: Preventive effects of fangfengtongsheng pill on obesity through energy consumption and anti-inflammatory effectYingying Chen, China Pharmaceutical University, China

Title: Physics and chemical links of obesity to human diseases: The role of hyperbarismAndy Zhang, Soochow University, China

Title: Immunohistochemical effects of aqueous extract of Xylopia aethiopica leaf on the stomach in streptozotocin-Induced diabetic ratsDavid Ofusori, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Title: Demographic data and BMI associated with serum total cholesterol in Sudanese populationNour Eldaim E Elbadawi, Alneelain University, Sudan

Title: Pharmacotherapy for weight lossOmar Safouh Abbas, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Saudi Arabia

Title: Correlation between skipping of breakfast, late night dinner with depression & obesity in womanUshakiran Sisodia, Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, India

Title: Cardio-respiratory fitness of national level teenage swimmers in Sri LankaSuranga Dassanayake, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Title: Accuracy of the weight-for-age index in identifying obese children in the emergency settingRuby Reetika Tripathi, University of Toronto, Canada

Title: Cardiac proteome alterations induced by diabetic oxidative stress on in OLETF ratsAbdelbary Prince, Cairo University, Egypt

Title: Behavioural and electrophysiological responses to visual food cues: Differences in obese, overweight and normal weight womenDavid John Hume, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Title: Randomised controlled trial of guna based diet intervention to reduce risk factors for childhood obesityNeha Sharna, Mittal Hospital, India

Title: Comparison of high protein vs. high carbohydrate diets on weight loss, cardiovascular factors, incretins and satietyFrankie B Stentz, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA


7: Steroids and Hormones in Obesity 8: Clinical Research and Interventions 9: Current Research Trends in Obesity10: Frontier of Endocrinology & Metabolism

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Anthropometric indicators for assessing health risk of obesity in native American adolescents and exploratory data analysisShasha ZhengCalifornia Baptist University, USA

Recent reports demonstrate the need to improve methods for identifying obesity among adolescent minority populations, especially among Native American adolescents. Our study examined several anthropometric measures to see which one

was the best indicator of obesity for Native American adolescents. We compared our data with that provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANESIII). We examined which measures differed significantly from the NHANESIII, and which were most effective for measuring obesity in Native American adolescents. Our study population represented a cross-sectional, epidemiological population (N=183) of Native American students (ages 14-18) from diverse tribal backgrounds at an urban residential high school. We obtained baseline anthropometric measurements of height, weight, waist, triceps skin-fold, and calf skin-fold measures from the Native American students and compared this information with reference data to assess weight classification by body mass indices for our population. Under the conditions of our study, we found the calf skin-fold measure to be the best indicator of normal weight in male Native American adolescents, and the triceps skin-fold measure to be the best indicator of obesity in male Native American adolescents. The assessment of health risk by anthropometric measures we obtained appears appropriate for predicting obesity and developing effective interventions for Native American adolescents in general. Correlations between anthropometric measures and obesity in our study population may prove of significant interest for monitoring obesity prevention initiatives for Native American adolescents.

BiographyShasha Zheng has completed her PhD from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and postdoctoral studies from Yale University School of Medicine. She is an Assistant Professor of nutrition at California Baptist University. She has published 9 first-author papers in top-reputed journals in the areas of nutrition and diseases.

[email protected]

Shasha Zheng, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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The role of the prostaglandin PGE2 in pancreatic β-cell death in the context of type 2 diabetesDanielle MelloulHadassah University Hospital, Israel

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex disease characterized by β-cell failure in the setting of insulin resistance. The underlying causes of β-cell failure are complex and result from the interplay between genetic and environmental factors.

Consumption of foods high in saturated fatty acids (FFAs) and the elevation of circulating FFAs have been implicated as an important causative link among obesity, insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Moreover, cumulative evidence indicates that there is a decrease in β-cell mass due to β-cell death in T2DM patients. FFAs can induce β-cell death by apoptosis, even in the absence of high glucose, whereas unsaturated fatty acids are usually protective. Several mechanisms have been implicated in palmitate-induced β-cell death, including ceramide formation leading to altered lipid partitioning, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Mild inflammation has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Another family of molecules involved in inflammation is prostaglandins, but their role in the development of T2DM is poorly understood. The present research aims at understanding the impact of prostaglandins (PGE2) on β-cell death. We show that PGE2-induced apoptosis is mediated by p38MAPK. To further elucidate the downstream signaling pathway of prostaglandins in β-cells, we studied the differential expression of PGE2 receptors (EP1-EP4) and found that the EP3 receptor is differentially upregulated in islets from T2DM patients. The significance of this receptor in β-cell apoptosis was tested by using EP3 specific siRNA or EP3 antagonist, and found that they led to a significant rescue of these cells from apoptosis.

BiographyDanielle Melloul has completed her PhD from the Weizmann Institute of Sciences (Rehovot, Israel) and postdoctoral studies from the Hormone Research Institute at UCSF (San Francisco, USA). She is Senior lecturer and head of the Biochemistry, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Hadassah Medical School and Scientist at the Hadassah University Hospital (Hebrew University, Jerusalem). She has received a number of awards and has published more than 32 papers in high impact journals as well as a series of invited reviews in the fields of physiology and pathophysiology of the pancreatic β-cell.

[email protected]

Danielle Melloul, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Endocannabinoid control of gut-brain hunger signalingNicholas V Di PatrizioUniversity of California, USA

Endocannabinoids are lipid-derived signaling molecules that control food intake and energy metabolism. Recent evidence from our laboratory suggests that tasting dietary fats triggers endocannabinoid signaling within the rat upper small intestine,

and this signaling event promotes the intake and possibly preference for fat-rich foods. We now report a broader role for the gut endocannabinoid system in the control of hunger and eating, and identify critical molecular and neural pathways that regulate these physiological processes. Food deprivation induces biosynthesis of the orexigenic endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol (2-AG), in the jejunum mucosa of rats in a time-dependent manner through a mechanism that includes increases in local levels of the 2-AG precursor, 1-stearoyl,2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol (SAG). Treatment with tetrahydrolipstatin-an inhibitor of diacylglycerol lipase (DGL), which is a critical enzyme that hydrolyzes SAG and generates 2-AG-inhibits production of jejunal 2-AG, suggesting a role for DGL in the formation of 2-AG in the intestine. Furthermore, deprivation-induced biosynthesis of 2-AG in the jejunum is blocked by complete subdiaphragmaticvagotomy or peripheral treatment with the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, atropine. Peripheral administration of atropine, or the peripherally-restricted cannabinoid CB1R antagonist, AM6546, inhibits re-feeding after a 24-hr fast. Collectively, the results suggest that food deprivation drives the biosynthesis of 2-AG in the jejunum through a vagal mechanism that includes activation of local muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Moreover, this gut-brain signaling pathway might participate more broadly in the integrative and dynamic control of feeding and energy balance.

BiographyNicholas V Di Patrizio’s passion for scientific discovery was solidified during his undergraduate studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. He subsequently earned a Biomedical PhD in the Neurosciences at Drexel University College of Medicine, and did his Postdoctoral research at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He is a recipient of the prestigious National Institutes of Health Pathway to Independence K99/R00 grant award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. He recently launched his independent research program as an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.

[email protected]

Nicholas V Di Patrizio, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Epigenetic regulation of IGF-IGFR signaling by H19 non-coding RNA in adult stem cellsLinheng LiUniversity of Kansas Medical Center, USA

Insulin growth factor (IGF) signaling plays a critical role during development and homeostasis of adult tissues. There is compelling evidence that adult stem cells exist in an active (enriching proliferating) and quiescent (functioning as a reserve

population) state. Earlier studies from our laboratory revealed differential expression of imprinting genes, including H19 locus, in these two populations in the blood-forming (hematopoietic) system. These observations led us to hypothesize that the epigenetic state of imprinting genes can influence stem cell state and the related function. To test this hypothesis, we used a genetic approach to delete DNR Methylation Region (DMR) in the H19 locus (H19fx/+ΔDMD) from female or male alleles respectively. Unlike paternally inherited deletion (H19 Δ DMD), maternally inherited deletion resulted in phenotypic reduction in quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and increase (at early stage) in proliferating HSCs, accompanied with compromised function of HSCs. These data suggest that the epigenetic state of imprinting genes regulates stem cell state and function. Deletion of the DMD region was accompanied by a decrease in H19 gene expression and reciprocal upregulation of Igf2, resulting in activation of the Igf2-Igfr1 pathway, thus leading to increased activation, proliferation, and eventual exhaustion of HSCs. Mechanistically, maternal-specific H19-DMR deletion led to an increased translation of Igf1r, which is normally suppressed by H19-derived miR-675. Similarly, genetic inactivation of Igf1r partially rescued the H19-DMR deletion phenotype. Our work establishes a novel role for this unique form of epigenetic control at the H19-Igf2 locus in maintaining adult stem cells via regulating IGF-IGFR signaling.

BiographyLinheng Li is best known for using genomics and genetics to study stem cells and their niches in hematopoietic and intestinal tissues. He was among the first to identify the endosteal (osteoblastic lining cell) niche in supporting hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), the first cellular component of niche identified in a mammalian system. Based on the study of different HSC subpopulations, he was also among the first to propose co-existing quiescent (as a reserve pool) and active (primed for action) adult stem cells in the same tissue in mammals. His recent work shows a critical role of epigenetic regulation of H19-Igf2 imprinted locus in controlling quiescent versus active states of HSCs.

[email protected]

Linheng Li, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Metabolic syndrome among university employees and their families in Saudi ArabiaAlzeidan R A1 and Rabiee F2

1King Saud University, KSA2Birmingham City University, UK

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clinical term used for the co-occurrence of several cardiovascular risk factors. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC; Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates), have been exposed to rapid socioeconomic growth and lifestyle changes in the last 4 decades. That has resulted in changes in the dietary habit and insufficient physical activity leading to high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, obesity and hyperlipidemia). In GCC countries MetS ranges from 20.7-40% e which is 10-15% higher than many developing countries, and highest among women.

Method: A cross sectional survey using WHO Stepwise tools to collect data form 4500 university employees and their families over 18 years old during May 2013 to April 2014.

Results: Overall prevalence of MetS using the International Diabetes Federation criteria was 25.3%, male had higher prevalence than female (30.6% vs. 21.1% p<0.001) and non- Saudi employees had a significantly higher prevalence than Saudis (31.3 vs. 22.5 p<0.001). MetS had a strong association with the age, and an inverse relation with the education level.

Conclusion and recommendation: Such alarming MetS prevalence among the employees requires a serious solution by the senior University Administration and the preventive strategies are recommended at institutional level: a) Adding an additional dietitian to the employees' clinic targeting cardiovascular risk factors reduction through healthy diet. b) Reducing the salt intake via the University food services. c) Encouraging employees to get a membership in the recreation centers.

BiographyAlzeidan R A is a PhD student in Birmingham City University (BCU)-UK, has a master degree in healthcare management and BSc in pharmacy. She is working as clinical researcher in King Saud University- College of Medicine-Department of Cardiology. She has published several peer-reviewed papers and she presented her research projects in regional, national and international conferences.

[email protected]

Alzeidan R A et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Estimating the distribution of usual intake of nutrients via asymmetric modelsJosé Eduardo Corrente, Giovana Fumes and Luciana Bronzi de SouzaUniversity of São Paulo, Brazil

One of the main interests of researchers in the field of nutrition is to check the inadequacy of food intake (according to an existing standard reference) from a group population. In the literature, models with measurement errors are

proposed to overcome this variability and estimate usual dietary intake of foods and nutrients of a group population. The basic assumption of these models is that the response variable follows a normal distribution. When this assumption failure, an appropriate transformation of the data for this assumption is done (usually Box-Cox-type), but in practice, it is noted that for datasets in which the distributions are highly asymmetric, it is not always possible to normalize them. Thus, the present study aims, through Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS), propose a new approach to obtain the distribution of nutrient intake data from a population with high asymmetry, trying to incorporate a factor in the model that considers within-person variance. These models were applied to a consumption data obtained from three 24-hour recalls of 351 older people of Botucatu city, São Paulo, Brazil. Nutrient intakes were obtained using the NDSR (Nutrition Data System for Research) software. The intake of some nutrients that showed very asymmetric distributions were adjusted and, using the Akaikecriteria, the GAMLSS approach presented lower values than the ones in classical models with measurement errors. It was concluded that the GAMLSS can be a useful approach to estimate the distribution of consumption in a more adequately way to data with highly asymmetry.

BiographyJose Eduardo Corrente has undergraduate degree in mathematics and took his MSc and PhD in biostatistics. He is Associate Professor at Biostatistics Department - University of Sao Paulo State - UNESP, and his field of research is epidemiology of third age. Main projects are in quality of life, lifestyle and nutritional aspects for older people with respect to eating patterns and adequate intake as well as publications in reputed journals. Giovana Fumes is a PhD Student at University of São Paulo developing alternative statistical methods to estimate the distribution of usual intake. He is dietitian and is a PhD in Public Health. His thesis is related a functional capacity, nutritional status and adequacy intake for older people.

[email protected]

José Eduardo Corrente et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Does poor nutrition affect the overweight or obesity prerequisites for physical load in children?Václav Bunc and Marie SkalskáCharles University, Czech Republic

Poor nutrition, in addition to an overall lack of exercise, is one of the major issues of the current children´s lifestyle. The most common consequence is the increase in overweight and obesity and decrease of physical fitness. In the Czech

Republic there are currently about 19% of girls and 18.5% of boys who are overweight and obese 11% of girls and 10.5% of boys aged 6-14years. The basic questions needed to be answered when designing exercise intervention for body mass (BM) reduction: Are the physical assumptions affected by overweight or obese state? The exercise predispositions can be evaluated by the extracellular (ECM) and intracellular (BCM) mass ratio. To verify the dependence of the ECM/BCM on BM we determinate body fat content (%BF) and calculated ECM/BCM for girls (normal BM, N=3598, mean age=12.6±3.5years, %BF=19.9±0.4%; overweight, 685, 12.7±3.3, 25.3±0.5; obese, 396, 12.8±3.4, 30.6±0.8 ), and in boys (normal BM, N=4810, mean age=12.8±3.7years, 19.8±0.4; overweight, 866, 12.6±3.3, 25.0±0.5; obese, 530, 12.8±3.4, 30.1±0.6) differing in BM. The body composition variables were determinate by bioimpedance analysis with use of predicting equation that has been validated for the Czech children´s population. We did not find significant differences in the ECM/BCM in girls and the same in boys, and non-significant dependence on BM. In conclusion: 1. the morphological predispositions for exercise are not dependent on BM, 2. do not exist any objective limitations for regular exercise realized in the children, 3. for successful management of an overweight and/or obesity, it is necessary to influence both the diet and exercise.

BiographyVaclav Bunc is head of a Research Centre Faculty of PE Sports Charles University Prague. His main topics are: application of mathematical methods and models in PE and sport, using of biocybernetics by evaluation of physical fitness, exercise physiology, functional and physical testing in laboratory and field, body composition, BIA methods, moving regimes for prevention in cardiac patients. He has published more than 400 items in scientific Journals, more than 150 in international journals. He is a member of Czech and International scientific societies. He is the Head of many research projectswith topics of exercise physiology and BC.

[email protected]

Václav Bunc et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Genome-wide expression analysis in hypothalamus of obese mice fed a high fat diet Margarita C Curras-Collazo University of California, USA

It is well established that the intake of fatty foods induces obesity, although relatively little attention is given to the type of fat. We show that male C57/BL6 mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 24 weeks based on coconut oil (saturated fat) had significantly

less weight gain than mice fed HFD enriched in soybean oil, which is rich in the polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (LA-HFD). LA-HFD mice also exhibited diabetes and insulin resistance. We performed genome-wide expression profiling (RNAseq) on the hypothalamus from these mice (n=4/group) and found significant changes in 47 genes. of these, only Sema3e and Sod1 have been previously linked to obesity or diabetes. Oxt and other candidate genes showed significant changes. Elevated expression of Sod1 (superoxide dismutase 1) in LA-HFD mice is consistent with the established role that oxidative stress plays in the progression of diabetes. Sema3e, which encodes class 3 semaphorin E proteins, showed a significant 1.7-fold decrease in expression in LA-HFD brains compared to HFD mice. In the brain Sema3e and its receptor Plexin D1 have an established role in axon-guidance and neurodevelopment, but have not been linked to energy balance. However, Sema3e within obese adipose tissue has been shown to interfere with leptin signaling, contributing to insulin resistance: our finding suggests a potential bidirectional partnership within the adipose-brain axis. We conclude that in the context of a diet high in saturated fats, soybean oil may contribute to obesity and associated changes in hypothalamic genes related to obesity and diabetes.

BiographyMargarita C Curras-Collazo completed her PhD in Medical Physiology from The Ohio State University and later pursued postdoctoral studies in neuropharmacology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Emory University. She is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the University of California, Riverside. Research in the Curras-Collazo lab focuses on homeostatic functions of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus as well as the neurotoxicological and endocrine disruptive effects of environmental pollutants. She has published more than 35 papers in reputed journals and has served as an ad hoc reviewer for NSF, American Heart Association, and DOD as well as international agencies.

[email protected]

Margarita C Curras-Collazo, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Overview of pediatric obesity managementAnn O ScheimannJohns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA

The presentation will add a glimpse to overview of pediatric obesity management-review of existing data, information gleaned from recent research interventions, role of obesity/nutrition in insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver

disease. The author will give in detail the various factors related to pediatric obesity management.

BiographyScheimann completed her MD at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and her pediatric residency and gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and maintains an ongoing appointment at Baylor College of Medicine in the Prader-willi syndrome clinic. She directs the Weigh Smart pediatric weight management program at Mount Washington Hospital and has been involved in clinical research in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and Prader-willi syndrome. She has authored and co-authored more than 54 peer–reviewed publications.

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Ann Scheimann, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Fructose vs. fat: Which is worse?Poonamjot DeolUniversity of California, USA

Obesity was recently declared a disease by the American Medical Association. One factor that is not well studied but correlates with the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is a 1000% increase in the consumption of soybean oil between 1909 and

1999. Another component of the American diet that has increased substantially in the last four decades is fructose, primarily in the form of high fructose corn syrup. To investigate, side-by-side, the effects of soybean oil and fructose on obesity and diabetes, we designed a series of specialized isocaloric diets to mimic the American diet; the diets are high in saturated fats (HFD, 40% kcal total fat) and supplemented, or not, with soybean oil (SO-HFD) and fructose. C57/BL6 mice on SO-HFD showed increased weight gain, adiposity and diabetes, as well as impaired glucose tolerance and insulin insensitivity compared to HFD. They also had fatty livers with significant ballooning injury and fibrosis and exhibited changes in crypt length in the proximal colon. Though the high fructose diets did not cause as much obesity or diabetes as SO-HFD, they did cause a very fatty liver and rectal prolapse. RNASeq of HFD and SO-HFD livers revealed a massive dysregulation of genes involved in metabolism. Metabolomic analysis shows differential effects with regard to hepatic lipid metabolism in SO-HFD versus HFD mice. These results suggest that in mice, dietary soybean oil in a high fat background causes obesity and diabetes while both soybean oil and fructose contribute to fatty liver and have negative effects on intestinal health.

BiographyPoonamjot Deol obtained PhD in Biomedical Sciences in 2008 from the University of California, Riverside. Before that, she received my MS degree in Food Science at Iowa State University and is currently working as a postdoc in the lab of Dr. Frances Sladek at UC, Riverside. Her research is focused mainly on understanding molecular processes/pathways involved in obesity and metabolism.

[email protected].

Poonamjot Deol, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Role of pattern recognition receptors and inflammatory mediators following gut microbiota alteration in high sugar diet mediated type 2 diabetesBhumika Prajapati, Prasant Kumar Jena, Parth Rajput and Sriram SeshadriInstitute of Science Nirma University, India

Background: Gut microbiota modulation using antibiotics can prevent progression of high sucrose diet (HSD) mediated obesity and diabetes, through microbial metabolites, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and inflammatory mediators.

Aim: Present investigation was aimed to study the effect of altering the microflora of small intestine and colon in HSD rats by oral administration of antibiotics in context with obesity and insulin sensitivity.

Methods: Rats were fed HSD with or without antibiotics administration for 60 days. The fecal microbiota communities, metabolites, glucose tolerance, plasma and hepatic lipids profile, histological evaluation and gene expression were investigated.

Results: Simultaneous administration of HSD and antibiotics has shown significant improvements in glucose tolerance and obesity associated parameters like hypercholesterolemia and hypertryglyceremia as compared to HSD. The qPCR study of fecal samples showed marked increase in Lactobacillus and decrease in Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli in treated group, which indicated the restoration of commensal microflora in direction to improvement in obesity and insulin sensitivity. Gas chromatographic study indicated altered levels of the SCFAs such as butyrate and acetate (major source of the energy for gut epithelial) in treated group as compared with HSD. Antibiotics co-administered group showed relatively less histopathological symptoms, compared to HSD group. Treatment had decreased the gut derived Lipopolysaccharide, which further reduced Immune Receptors expression along with reduced NF-kB activity to downregulate the expression of proinflammatory cytokines.

Future Prospects: Gut microbiota manipulation towards decreased inflammation and insulin resistance needs to be further explored for its therapeutic applications in order to treat the metabolic complications.

BiographyBhumika Prajapati has completed her MS Pharma in Biotechnology from National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER). She is currently perusing her PhD from Institute of Science, Nirma University. She has been awarded with Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship for Doctoral Studies sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, India. Her work is mainly focused on the Gut microflora alteration in diet induced obesity and diabetes. She has published three papers in international journals

[email protected]

Bhumika Prajapati et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Sleep deprivation or sleep disorder lead to obesityKolsoom Parvaneh1,2, Bee Koon Poh1, Majid Hajifaraji3 and Mohd Noor Ismail41Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia2Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia3Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran4MARA University of Technology, Malaysia

Obesity leads to many health outcomes such as type 2 diabetics, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Finding cause of obesity is vital for managing weight status. Sleep plays one of the key roles for obesity management. This study aims to investigate

the association of sleep deprivation or sleep quality with obesity. A cross sectional study was conducted between 225 Iranian adults (109 male and 116 female) aged 20-55 years old. Anthropometrics were measured followed by assessment of dietary intake, physical activity and sleep habit were performed via interviewed validated questionnaires. Subjects were divided in two groups of normal weight (36.3%) or overweight/obese (64%) based on WHO standards (2000) for comparing of sleep duration. However, Sleep quality was analyzed based on two groups of shorter sleeper and longer sleeper (less than 6h 48% or more than 6 h/day 52%). Overweight/obese subjects showed more trouble in sleeping including falling asleep (50% vs. 32.1%, p<0.01), waking up during the night (59.7% vs. 38.3%; p<0.01), and did not get enough sleep (86.1% vs. 70.4%; p< 0.01) compared to normal weight subjects. Shorter sleep duration had higher body weight and BMI (77.4±13.3 vs. 70.7±14.5, 27.7±3.4 vs. 25.9±3.9 p<0.01 respectively) compare to longer sleeper. Poor sleeper had significantly higher risk for being overweight or obese (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.18-3.37, p<0.05) compared to less problem and longer sleeper. Thus, less sleep quality and sleep duration increase the risk of being overweight and obese. Hence, strategies may consider on sleep pattern for the management of obesity.

BiographyKolsoom Parvaneh is doing her PhD in semester 5 in the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in the field of Clinical Nutrition in University Putra Malaysia. She has publications related to linkage of obesity and sleep and others filed of nutrition.

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Kolsoom Parvaneh et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Dyslipidemia and dysglycemia in non-human primates Yong-Fu Xiao and Yi-Xin (Jim) WangCardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Research, Crown Bioscience Inc., China; David H. Murdock Research Institute, USA

Obesity becomes a global epidemic issue most likely due to economic growth, urbanization, modernization, life-style change and decreased physical activity. One of the main comorbidities of obesity is the insulin-resistant diabetes (Type 2

diabetes mellitus, T2DM), the most common form of diabetes. Inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, hyperinsulinemia, lipotoxicity and others, such as genetic background and aging, may result in obesity and insulin resistance. T2DM and obesity dynamically influence each other and often escalate patients’ other health problems. It is recognized that sustained greater energy intake than expenditure is the main cause of obesity due to excessive fat accumulation which can potentially lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. The underlying precise mechanisms and interactions between obesity and T2DM need to be further elucidated. Various animal models have been induced and generated for research on understanding the pathophysiology of human obesity and diabetes. Also, animal models have been widely used for testing new novel therapies of obesity and diabetes. In recent years, we have been studying obesity and diabetes in non-human primates either naturally developed or high calorie diet (HCD)-induced. The characteristics of dyslipidemia and dysglycemia in NHPs diseased with obesity and diabetes are summarized and discussed in our presentation.

BiographyYong-Fu Xiao, MD, PhD, senior director of in vivo pharmacology in CVMD department, adjunct professor of Suzhou University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, has extensive training and working experiences in cardiovascular and metabolic research in various animal models. Before joining CrownBio, he worked as principal scientist on gene and protein therapy for heart and metabolic diseases in Medtronic, Inc. and on cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology as Assistant Professor of medicine and Associate Biophysicist in Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital with over 100-published research papers, reviews, book chapters and patents.

Yi-Xin (Jim) Wang, MD, senior vice president, Crown Bioscience Inc. Academia in physiology and pharmacology: postdoctoral fellow (Boston University) and assistant professor (Univesity of Tennessee at Memphis). Over 20 years working experience in major pharmaceutical companies (GSK, Roche, Schering/Bayer AG) and biotechnology Inc. (Arete) from preclinical R&D to Phase II. Specialized in cardiometabolic research with ~100 peer-reviewed publications.

[email protected]

Yong-Fu Xiao et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Preventive effects of fangfengtongsheng pill on obesity through energy consumption and anti-inflammatory effectYingying ChenChina Pharmaceutical University, China

Introduction: N-truncated form of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (NT-PGC-1α) is a novel truncated form of PGC-1α and contains core functional areas of PGC-1α. NT-PGC-1α had become a new target for obesity treatment which plays an important role in compensation and substitution of PGC-1α. Fangfengtongsheng (FFTS) pill is a traditional Chinese medicine which has anti-obesity effect and is composed of seventeen strains of herbs. However, the mechanism is not clear.

Objective: To investigate the anti-obesity mechanism of FFTS from the energy metabolism and the anti-inflammatory effect.

Material and methods: High-fat diet induced obese ICR mouse and brown adipose tissue primary cell were used to study the energy metabolism pathway and Raw264.7 cell was used to explore the anti-inflammatory effect.

Results: Our results indicate that FFTS pill has a potential to improve the gene expression of PGC-1α, NT-PGC-1α and UCP1 to increase energy expenditure, meanwhile exhibits a great reduction of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and iNOS expression to alleviate inflammation reaction.

Conclusion: FFTS pill has a therapeutic effect on obesity through the promotion of energy consumption and inhibition of pro-inflammatory genes expression.

BiographyYingying Chen has completed her bachelor degree at the age of 23 years from Henan University of TCM and fortunately became a candidate in the Master-PhD program of China pharmaceutical University in September 2013. Her research focuses on obesity and other metabolic diseases.

[email protected]

Yingying Chen, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Physics and chemical links of obesity to human diseases: The role of hyperbarismAndy Zhang, Jia Zhang and Kai LiSoochow University, China

The abnormal accumulation of fatty acids within and around the peritoneal organs increases physics pressure at both organ and cellular levels. Sensing and responding these physic stimuli, cellular synthesis and/or secretion of a variety of chemical

mediators are altered, by which diabetes, renal diseases, coronary artery disease, adipose liver, and preeclampsia are developed or augmented. The cure of preeclampsia by delivery and the substantial cure of type-2 diabetes by bariatric surgery can be considered as in vivo human studies, which suggest that physic pressure on abdominal organs arising from the obesity is the cause that results in functional and/or structural injuries of the abdominal organs. Exposed to the increased abdominal pressure in obese individuals, the increased pressure works as a cause, interacting with the susceptible factors of various genotypes, to alter the expression of susceptible genes and other functional genes required for homeostasis. The cellular illness featured by the endophenotypes of abnormal autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, and exocrine of chemical mediators. Either altered chemical mediators, or responses to these chemicals, eventually lead to the variety of exophenotypes of divergent types of diseases in obese individuals. For all clinical complications of the abdominal hyperbarism syndrome, obesity is an environmental factor and is necessitated to initiate and trigger pathological processes. Based on the severity and the number of organs/systems involved, abdominal hyperbarism syndromes are clinically divergent in some individuals only have obesity with one abdominal organ dysfunction, others with 2, and severe patients with more than 2 organs including gastrointestinal cancers.

BiographyAndy Zhang began his biomedical research at Genotheramics Inc., San Diego and is a visiting student of Soochow University. He is interested in identifying the mechanisms by which environmental factors act on gene regulation. Currently, he is focusing on the effects of chronically increased abdominal pressure on the development of human diseases. His other research interests include the more efficient interference of gene regulation through gene editing technology. He has been involved in the development of a TAL effector library and now participates in the development of assays for off-targeting analysis of engineered nucleases.

[email protected]

Andy Zhang et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Immunohistochemical effects of aqueous extract of xylopia aethiopica leaf on the stomach in streptozotocin-induced diabetic ratsD A Ofusori1,2, O A Komolafe2, O S Adewole2, D. Magolis1, T Naicker1

Department of Optics and Imaging Centre, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

Gastrointestinal pathology in diabetic patients has become a source of concern in recent times. The aim of this study was to investigate the Immunohistochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Xylopia aethiopica on the stomach in

streptozotocin-induced diabetic Rats.

This study was conducted using thirty adult wistar rats. The animals were divided randomly into three groups (n=10). Group A was the control animals (administered with equivalent volume of citrate buffer), group B was diabetic animals induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin dissolved in citrate buffer (65mg/kg) and group C was diabetic animals treated with 200mg/kg body weight of aqueous leave extract of Xylopia aethiopica for twenty eight days. At the expiration of the study, all the animals in each of the groups were sacrificed and the stomach excised and fixed in 10% formol saline and processed for monoclonal antibodies against H+/K+-ATPase gastric proton pump and light microscopy studies.

The results showed a gradual decline (P<0.05) in the blood glucose level in the extract treated group as against the untreated diabetic group. There was a distortion of the glandular mucosa and epithelium in the untreated diabetic group vis-à-vis the extract treated and control groups. This confirms that diabetes induces pathological changes in gastric tissue. The immunohistochemical staining of the stomach of untreated diabetic group showed that the immunoreactive parietal cells were sparse in the untreated diabetic group compared with the control group. There was a better staining pattern for H+/K+- ATPase gastric proton pump in the group treated with aqueous leaf extract of Xylopia aethiopica as compared with the untreated diabetic group. This is suggestive of better functionality and viability of the ion channels localized on the parietal cells. It is concluded that diabetes causes gastric pathology thus resulting in morphological changes in the gastric histo-architecture and parietal cells. The aqueous leaf extract of Xylopia aethiopica enhances the recovery/restoration of these defects in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats and as such, may play a significant role in the management of complications associated with diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Immunohistochemistry, Parietal cells, Stomach, Xylopia

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D A Ofusori et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Demographic data and BMI associated with serum total cholesterol in Sudanese populationAhmed A Ahmed1, Khalid M Adam1, Nour Eldaim E Elbadawi2, Elwathiq K Ibrahim2, Elbashir G Elbari and Gad Allah Modawe3

1Alneelain University, Sudan2Kassala University, Sudan3Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan

Background: Serum total cholesterol is believed to have a role in coronary heart disease, which in turn gets affected by many genetic and environmental factors. A number of studies were conducted to investigate the influence of factors such as age, gender, BMI and ethnicity on the level of serum total cholesterol and other lipoproteins.

Objective: The current study aimed to explore the effect of gender, age, BMI, ethnicity on the serum total cholesterol levels in healthy Sudanese population.

Methodology: Serum of total cholesterol levels were determined spectrophotometerically in randomly selected 660 (36.4% males and 63.6% females) apparently healthy non-smoker Sudanese, aged 27 to 70 years.

Results: Mean serum cholesterol levels were lower in study group when compared with internationally set value (200 mg/dl), and no statistically significant difference in the level of total cholesterol between males, as well as among different age groups. Comparison of serum total cholesterol according to the BMI also showed no statistically significant differences. Different ethnic groups showed no statistically significant differences in their level of total cholesterol.

Conclusions: It is concluded that current life style of Sudanese population that is characterized by high physical activities, low fats diets and exposure to sun light for long periods, maintains the cholesterol levels within the normal healthy levels.

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Ahmed A Ahmed et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Correlation between skipping of breakfast, late night dinner with depression & obesity in womanUshakiran Sisodia and Nirva DesaiDr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, India

Introduction: Today, obesity, in spite of all advanced technology is an epidemic disease. In today’s fast moving life we have totally forgotten the bodily requirements and depression, skipping of breakfast, late night dinners’ increases weight over the period. A total 400 working women with BMI’s between 35-40 were included in the study, of which 78 dropped out, 68 could not follow and remaining carried out.

Method: A performa was developed including history, diet recall, medical history, physical activity and any specific disease associated with obesity. BMI was calculated and biochemical tests were performed. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were examined with present problems associated with weight gain in relation to depression.

Results: Reduced BMI’s don’t have to undergo sleeve gastrectomy. Balloon blowing & walking helps to lose weight in people not taking breakfast, having late night dinners, and low HDL and low energy levels. Those having good breakfast and early dinner will have weight loss as well reduced depression. Diet plan of dry ginger powder and Curcuma longa, Phyllanthus emblica, increased lime intake in a meal at 7 pm was introduced.

BiographyUshakiran Sisodia CDE, R.D (Registered Dietician 1995), MSc (Foods &Nutrition) Gold medallist (1986) Rajasthan (INDIA) is an NE member IDA, also a Joint sec. of IDA 2006 & Active L.E.C member, years 2001 -2005. She has published articles on all kinds of health issues in Marathi news paper/Indian express/Sakaal from Pune/Navbharat times/Hindustan times from time to time. She has presented Research paper in ICDA, 2008 Yokohama, Japan & EFAD conference 2005 Geneva Switzerland. At Present she is an HOD, Nanavati superspeciality Hospital (Mumbai) India, since 14 yrs.

[email protected]

Ushakiran Sisodia et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Cardio-respiratory fitness of national level teenage swimmers in Sri LankaDassanayake T D M S B1, Rajaratne S A2 and Rajaratne A A J2

1University of Colombo, Sri Lanka2University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Swimming is known to be a popular exercise that can be used to develop cardiovascular fitness. At present lack of cardio respiratory endurance in individuals had become a burning problem which is leading to complicated heath problems.

This study was conducted with the objective of assessing and comparing the differences in cardio-vascular fitness of national level teenage swimmers and non swimmers as it was important to determine cardio respiratory endurance from the child hood. 50 male and 54 female teenage swimmers (age 13-19 years) who qualified for the School Nationals Meet and similar numbers of controls (age, sex and geographical area matched) were recruited for the study. All participants rode a standard Monark cycle ergometer at a given work load for a period of 6 minutes and using a modified Astrand-Rhyming nomogram the VO2max of the subjects was predicted from the submaximal pulse rate and the work load. Male swimmers had a significantly higher (p=0.0001) VO2max (47.9 ml/kg/min) than the male controls (31.7 ml/kg/min). There was also a significant (p=0.0001) difference in VO2max between female swimmers and female controls (27.7 ml/kg/min). Further the value for VO2max is below the teenagers required for athletes and in controls those values were well below. We conclude that the swimmers have a better VO2max compared to non-swimmers and those values are not up to the required range which may increase cardiovascular disease risk in future life especially in non swimmers. Therefore, we recommend that swimming be used as a sport to improve cardio-vascular fitness in athletes.

BiographyDassanayake T D M S B has read for his MPhill degree in Anthopometry and exercise science from 2012 to 2014 at University of Peradeniya. He is currently working as a lecturer at Allied Health Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and the coordinator of the clinical stream of the BSc physiotherapy degree program. He has published several research works being the initiatives of the Physiotherapy degree program in Sri Lanka. He serves as an advisor to PhysioBD magazine Bangladesh.

[email protected]

Dassanayake T D M S B et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Accuracy of the weight-for-age index in identifying obese children in the emergency settingReetika Tripathi1, Quynh Doan2, Vikram Sabhaney2 and Kathy Boutis1

1University of Toronto, Canada2University of British Columbia, Canada

Background: Obesity has been defined as weight-for-age >95th percentile for research/clinical settings like the emergency department where height is not routinely available.

Objective: Our main objective was to determine the sensitivity of weight-for-age >95%th percentile in identifying obesity, using Body Mass Index (BMI)-for-age >95% percentile as the reference standard. We also determined the specificity, and predictive values, and the correlation between weight and BMI-for-age values.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with prospectively collected data conducted at two urban, tertiary care pediatric emergency departments in Canada. Children between 2 and 17 years of age with acute extremity injuries were enrolled.

Results: of the 2259 participants, 1283 (56.1%) were male and the mean (SD) age was 9.5 (4.1) years. Using weight-for-age >95th percentile, 326 [14.3% (12.9, 15.7]) were classified as obese, while using BMI-for-age >95th percentile criteria determined that 363 [16.1% (14.6, 17.7)] were obese, p<0.0001. The sensitivity (95% CI) of weight-for-age >95th percentile to identify obesity was 62.2% (57.0, 67.2). The specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 94.5 % (93.6, 95.6), 14.4% (13.0, 16.0), and 85.6% (84.0, 87.0), respectively. The correlation between BMI and weight-for-age was 0.71 (0.68, 0.73).

Conclusion: Although there may be limited validity in using this weight-for-age cut-off as a definition for obesity in research that includes children with acute injuries, the high specificity may provide some clinical utility in identifying two-thirds of children who are obese while minimizing false labeling of this condition.

BiographyReetika Tripathi is currently in final year of undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto where she is pursuing a major in Health and Disease as well as a minor in French and Italian. Her interest in this pediatric obesity research had been ignited by a two-year research project that she worked on in collaboration with several Pediatric Emergency Physicians at the Hospital for Sick Children & British Columbia Children's Hospital, entitled “Bone Fractures in Children - Is There an Association with Obesity?”

[email protected]

Reetika Tripathi et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Cardiac proteome alterations induced by diabetic oxidative stress on in OLETF ratsAbdelbary Prince1,2, Said Moussa1, HyungKyu Kim2 and Jin Han2

1Cairo University, Egypt2Inje University, South Korea

Diabetic cardiomyopathy has been documented as an underlying etiology of heart failure among diabetics. Although oxidative stress has been proposed to contribute to diabetic cardiomyopathy, much of the evidence lacks specificity.

Furthermore, whether alterations occur at the cardiac proteome level in diabetic cardiac complications with attendant oxidative stress remains unknown. Therefore, we sought to identify cardiac protein changes in relation to myocardial oxidative stress that are specific to diabetic cardiomyopathy. Animal model of type 2 diabetes (OLETF rat) was used to investigate the alteration of myocardial proteome in diabetic cardiomyopathy. OLETF rats were examined for diabetic cardiomyopathy at 35 weeks of age by histopathogical and histochemical analyses. Myocardial oxidative stress was shown in diabetic rats, as indexed by significant increase in mitochondrial superoxide formation. In-depth mining of the diabetic myocardial proteome by proteomic analysis utilizing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (2DE/MS) techniques revealed down-regulation of antioxidant and anti-apoptotic proteins and up-regulation of fatty acid oxidation related proteins in diabetic hearts. These results characterize a role of substrate switch to fatty acid utilization in alteration of metabolic pathways in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

BiographyAbdelbary Prince is a Biochemist and Molecular Biologist. Over the past 10 years, he has served at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University. He received his Doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Prince did his Master's and Doctorate research in the laboratory of Dr. Han at Inje University, South Korea and his post-doctoral work as Mass Spec Specialist in the laboratory of Cregan at USDA. While teaching 15 contact hours a semester, advising students and being involved throughout Cairo University campus, he has maintained a successful research. For the past 5 years, Abdelbary was worked in the Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology to focus on genotyping of Avian Influenza isolated from Egyptian farms. He has participated in organization of many workshops and conferences in the field of Genomics and Proteomics as lecturer and organizer.

[email protected]

Abdelbary Prince et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Behavioural and electrophysiological responses to visual food cues: Differences in obese, overweight and normal weight womenDavid John Hume, F M Howells, H G Laurie Rauch, J Kroff and E V LambertUniversity of Cape Town, South Africa

Background: Heightened brain-reactivity to food cues, as measured by differences in attentional bias during the early and maintained phases of information processing, may relate to a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). The present study explored differences in the attentional processing of visual food-related versus neutral stimuli in obese, overweight and normal weight women.

Methods: 81 Healthy women were characterized for height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and body composition, and were allocated to a normal weight (BMI ≤24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) or obese group (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Medical, general health, demographic, weight and reproductive history, physical activity, fat intake, body shape and body image questionnaires were completed. Behavioural (response accuracy and reaction time) and electrophysiological (event related potentials) data were collected while participants completed one stroop task containing food images, and a second task containing neutral (office-related) images.

Results: Food cue-elicited right parietal (P4) ERP P200 amplitude was higher in overweight compared to normal weight women, food cue-elicited right parietal (P4) ERP P300 latency was shorter in obese compared to normal weight women and food-related stroop task accuracy scores were lower in obese compared to overweight women. Food-related attentional bias scores showed significant correlations for measures of eating behaviour, habitual physical activity, body shape dissatisfaction and anthropometry. No differences in office-related attentional bias were found.

Conclusion: Brain reactivity to food cues is greater among those with a higher BMI. Heightened food-elicited ERP P200 amplitude in overweight women indicates increased attentional bias to food-related versus neutral visual stimuli during the initial phases of information processing. A shorter ERP P300 latency and increased number of food-related stroop task mistakes in obese women indicate increased attentional bias to food cues during the conscious, maintained phases of information processing. Finally, measures of heightened food cue-reactivity show associations with increased fat intake, increased levels of habitual physical activity, increased dissatisfaction for body shape and measures of leanness.

BiographyDavid John Hume, aged 25, is a final year PhD student (University of Cape Town, South Africa) aspiring to enroll for post-doctoral study in 2015. Obesity research has always been his main interest with his work primarily focusing on the factors which predispose individuals to weight regain (or “weight loss relapse”) after successful weight reduction. His publications include work on resting and activity-related thermogenesis in formerly overweight women; the socio-cultural, environmental and behavioural determinants of obesity in black South African Women; the role of adipose tissue in insulin resistance in women of African ancestry; the metabolic effects of African bird’s eye chilli in overweight individuals; and electrophysiological (EEG) response to visual food cues in obese and overweight women.

[email protected]

David John Hume et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Randomised controlled trial of guna based diet intervention to reduce risk factors for childhood obesityS C Mittal1, Karnika Shaktawat2, Arun Verma3, Archana Rathore2 and Shivraaj Singh2

1Mittal Hospital, India 2NMP Medical Research Institute, India3Safdarjang Hospital, India

Background: Obesity is increasing among children and demands preventive strategies. Randomized controlled trials of Yoga and Ayurveda based diet based intervention are lacking.

Objective: To assess Guna based diet intervention was effective in reducing risk factors for childhood obesity.

Design: Group randomized controlled trial.

Participants: 226 children aged 6-11 years.

Intervention: Ayurvedic guna based modification of meals, and the development of meal plans based on the gunas. Parents attended group educational sessions held twice a week for 12 weeks. Children were assessed 3 months from baseline (0 and 3 months post intervention for the control and intervention group)

Main outcome measures: Body mass index, diet, physical activity, and psychological state.

Results: Vegetable consumption by 24 hour recall was higher in children in the intervention group than the control group (p<0.01), representing a difference equivalent to 50% of baseline consumption. Sedentary behaviour was higher in overweight children in the control group (p<0.001). Global self-worth was higher in obese children in the intervention group (p=0.0002). There was significant difference in body mass index (p<0.0001) and other psychological measures (p<0.0001). Focus groups indicated higher levels of self-reportedbehavior change, understanding, and knowledge among children who had received the intervention.

Conclusion: In conclusion, participation in the Guna base diet Program was effective in reducing adiposity in children. Importantly, the program is the first pediatric obesity interventions which conforms to expert recommendations and is deliverable in a primary care setting. These results suggest that the program is a promising intervention to help address the rising obesity problem in children.

BiographyS C Mittal earned his medical degree in India, and did specialization in General medicine. For more than 30 years, he is a practicing physician and research expert to serve the leading research institutes and organizations.

[email protected]

S C Mittal et al., J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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Volume 4, Issue 5

Comparison of high protein vs. high carbohydrate diets on weight loss, cardiovascular factors, incretins and satietyFrankie B StentzUniversity of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA

Our studies comparing the effects of dietary macronutrients on metabolic parameters show that a High Protein (HP) diet (30% protein, 30% fat, 40% CHO) vs. a High Carbohydrate (HC) diet (15% protein, 30% fat, 55% CHO) results in greater

reduction in insulin resistance and oxidative stress in the HP group than the HC group after 6 months (mo) on the diets. Since the incretin GLP-1 has an important role in insulin sensitivity we studied the effect of the diets on GLP-1. Studies have shown that HP diets can potentially induce satiety, therefore we studied diet effects on ghrelin levels. Additionally, since cardiovascular risk factors decreased more in the HP than the HC diet, we determined if the B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) released from the heart was affected by either diet. 24 Obese women were randomized to HP or HC diets. All food was provided for the 6 mo study. Ghrelin, GLP-1 and BNP levels were determined with MTT at baseline and after 6 mo on HP and HC diets. Results are shown in the Table. HP ghrelin results demonstrate that HP diet can induce satiety and is more effective than the HC diet. HP diet had a greater increase in GLP-1 than the HC diet. The BNP decrease in both groups demonstrates the improvement in heart tissue with the HP diet having a greater effect than the HC diet. Although weight loss was similar (9.8% in HP group and 9.3% in HC group) this study demonstrates that the HP diet has additional health benefits compared to the HC diet.

BiographyFrankie B Stentz completed her MS at Florida State University and PhD at the University of Tennessee and postdoctoral studies in the Department of Medicine at the University of Tennessee. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee and Medical Lab Director of the University of Tennessee Endocrinology Lab. She has published more than 70 papers in pier reviewed journals and serves on editorial boards.

[email protected]

Frankie B Stentz, J Obes Weight Loss Ther 2014, 4:5http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2165-7904.C1.020

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