Ultrasonographic ovarian dynamic, plasma progesterone, and non-esterified fatty acids in lame postpartum dairy cows

The objective of this study was to compare ovulation rate, number of large ovarian follicles, and concentrations of plasma progesterone (P4) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) between lame (n = 10) and non-lame (n = 10) lactating Holstein cows. The study was conducted in an organic dairy farm, and cows were evaluated by undertaking ultrasonography and blood sampling every 3 days from 30 days postpartum for a period of 34 days. Cows which became lame during the first 30 days postpartum experienced a lower ovulation rate determined by the presence of a corpus luteum (50% presence for lame cows and 100% for non-lame cows, p ≤ 0.05). The number of large ovarian follicles in the ovaries was 5 for lame cows and 7 for non-lame cows (p = 0.09). Compared to non-lame cows, lame cows had significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of plasma P4. Furthermore, NEFA concentrations were lower (p ≤ 0.05) in lame cows than in non-lame cows. It is concluded that lameness in postpartum dairy cows is associated with ovulation failure and lower concentrations of P4 and NEFA.

Study on changes of ratio of serum NEFA/ALB in children with primary ne-phrotic syndrome / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To study on the changes of the ratio of serum NEFA/ALB in children with primary nephrotic syndrome , and to provide new indicators for the diagnosis and severity assessment of clinical PNS .Methods:The levels of serum albumin ( ALB) , free fatty acid (NEFA),urea nitrogen(BUN),uric acid(UA),creatinine(Scr),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C) ,high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C) were quantitatively measured in 52 patients with PNS in acute stage ( acute stage group ) and 34 patients with PNS in complete remission ( remission stage group ) and 50 healthy children ( con-trol group).The lipid/lipoprotein and renal function parameters were also analyzed .Results: Compared with controls group ,the levels of serum ALB,HDL-C in acute group and remission group decreased significantly ( P<0.05 ) ,but the levels of serum NEFA/ALB,TC, TG,LDL-C,UA,BUN,Scr in acute group increased significantly ( P<0.05 ) ,the levels of serum TG ,LDL-C in acute group increased significantly (P<0.05).Compared with remission group,the levels of serum ALB in acute group decreased significantly (P<0.05), but the levels of serum NEFA/ALB,TC,TG,LDL-C,UA,BUN,Scr increased significantly (P<0.05).In PNS children,the ratio of NEFA to ALB was positively correlated with the levels of TC ,TG,LDL-C,UA,BUN (P<0.05),while negatively correlated with ALB (P<0.05).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the ratio of NEFA to ALB had an independent association with BUN levels (β=0.045,t=1.602,P=0.003).Conclusion:In the development process of PNS disease ,serum ratio of NEFA to ALB increased in-dicates impaired kidney function or reduced kidney function ,and it can help doctor assess and judge the clinical condition .

Investigation on reference interval of serum non-esterified fatty acid among population in Wuhan area / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To preliminarily establish the reference interval of serum non‐esterified fatty acids(NEFA)among popula‐tion in Wuhan area by enzymatic assay .Methods NEFA level of serum samples from A total of 1 250 individuals undergoing healthy physical examination in our hospital were selected as the research subjects .The Olympus AU5400 biochemistry analyzer and SEKISUI reagents were adopted to detect serum NEFA level .The regression analysis was adopted to analyze the NEFA influencing factors .The NEFA 95% reference interval was estimated by using the normal distribution method and the reference interval was verified .Results The regression analysis showed that the body mass index (BMI)and age had significant effect on NEFA (P<0 .01) .NEFA was highest in the group aged ≥60 years old ,followed by the group of 18- <45 years old ,and lowest in the group of 45-60 years old ;NEFA was highest in the group of BMI<18 .5 kg/m2 .The 95% reference interval of NEFA for healthy popula‐tion in Wuhan area was estimated as 204 .6 -975 .2 μmol/L .The detected NEFA level for clinical verifiers was 242 .0 -831 .2μmol/L ,which conformed to the above reference interval .Conclusion The serum NEFA reference interval among healthy popula‐tion in Wuhan area is primarily established .

Effects of supplementation with omega-3 on insulin sensitivity and non-esterified free fatty acid (NEFA) in type 2 diabetic patients / Efeito da suplementação com ômega-3 sobre a sensibilidade à insulina e aos ácidos graxos livres não esterificados (AGNE) em pacientes com diabetes tipo 2

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the role of omega-3 supplementation on NEFA concentration, insulin sensitivity and resistance, and glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic patients. Subjects and methods: Forty-four type 2 diabetic patients were randomly recruited into two groups. Group A received 4 g/day omega-3 soft gels, and group B received a placebo for 10 wks. Blood samples were collected after 12-h fast. Physical activity records, three-day food records, and anthropometric measurements were obtained from all participants at the beginning and end of the study. Results: Omega-3 supplementation caused a significant reduction in NEFA in the intervention group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.009). Additionally, the administration of omega-3 resulted in significantly greater changes (Diff) for the intervention group in various parameters, such as insulin and Quicki indices compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in type 2 diabetic patients improved insulin sensitivity, probably due to the decrease in NEFA concentrations. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2014;58(4):335-40 .

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o papel da suplementação com ácidos graxos ômega-3 sobre a concentração de ácidos graxos não esterificados (AGNE), resistência e sensibilidade à insulina e metabolismo de lipídios em pacientes com diabetes melito tipo 2. Sujeitos e métodos: Quarenta e quatro pacientes com diabetes tipo 2 foram recrutados aleatoriamente e alocados em um de dois grupos. O Grupo A recebeu 4 g/dia de ômega-3 na forma de cápsulas gelatinosas e o grupo B recebeu placebo durante 10 semanas. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas após 12 horas de jejum. Registros da atividade física, da dieta de três dias e medidas antropométricas foram obtidos de todos os participantes no início e no final do estudo. Resultados: A suplementação com ômega-3 causou uma redução significativa na AGNE em comparação com grupo placebo (P = 0,008). Além disso, a administração de ômega-3 resultou em alterações significativamente maiores (Dif) em vários parâmetros, tais como a insulina, HOMA-IR e QUICKI, comparando com placebo (P < 0,05). Conclusões: A suplementação com ácidos graxos ômega-3 em pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 melhorou a sensibilidade à insulina, provavelmente devido à diminuição da concentração de AGNE. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2014;58(4):335-40 .

The tryptophan utilization concept in pregnancy

The decrease in maternal plasma total (free + albumin-bound) tryptophan (Trp) during the third pregnancy trimester is attributed to induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). When measured, free [Trp] is increased because of albumin depletion and non-esterified fatty acid elevation. The Trp depletion concept in pregnancy is therefore not supported because of incorrect interpretation of changes in Trp disposition and also for not addressing mouse strain differences in Trp-related responses and potential inhibition of Trp transport by the IDO inhibitor 1-methyl tryptophan. Application of the Trp utilization concept in pregnancy offers several physiological advantages favoring fetal development and successful outcome, namely provision of Trp for fetal protein synthesis and growth, serotonin for signaling pathways, kynurenic acid for neuroprotection, quinolinic acid for NAD+ synthesis, and other kynurenines for suppression of T cell responses. An excessive increase in Trp availability could compromise pregnancy by undermining T cell suppression, e.g., in pre-eclampsia.

Alteration of the acyl chain composition of free fatty acids, acyl coenzyme A and other lipids by dietary polyunsaturated fats.

Dietary alterations were used to demonstrate selective handling of fatty acids during their redistribution in vivo. Differences in the mol per cent of individual acyl chains in the non-esterified fatty acid, acyl-coenzyme A and phospholipid fractions reflected a result of relative precursor abundance combined with enzymic selectivities. Selective distributions were observed in the utilization of individual acyl chains between 16:0 and 18:0, 18:1 and 18:2, and among 20:3, 20:4 and 20:5, 22:6 by ligase(s), hydrolase(s) and acyl-transferases. The variations in the mol per cent of linoleate present in the acyl-coenzyme A fraction of liver relative to that in the non-esterified fatty acids suggested an in vivo regulation of the level of linoleoyl-coenzyme A that influenced the synthesis of both arachidonoyl-coenzyme A and lipids. The greater abundance of eicosapentaenoic acid in the free fatty acid fraction relative to that in the acyl-coenzyme A fraction may increase the ability of dietary 20: 5n-3 to be an effective inhibitor of the synthesis of prostaglandins derived from 20:4n-6.