[The role of mTOR in the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism].

mTOR enzyme belongs to a family of specific serine/threonine protein kinases. mTOR plays an important role in the transmission of extracellular signals by phosphorylation of various substrates in many metabolic reactions in humans. Protein mTOR, having protein kinase activity, is encoded by a gene FRAP1, which is localized on chromosome 1 (1p36.2) in skeletal muscle. It exists in two mTOR protein complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2 with various sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of rapamycin. mTOR regulates metabolism in skeletal muscle by phosphorylation of various of protein metabolizing enzymes as well as transcription and translation factors. mTOR expression occurs in response to metabolic requests of muscles and leads to increased metabolism of proteins. The data of recent studies suggest an important role of mTOR in the regulation of intracellular metabolism and point to the need of studying the molecular mechanisms involved in physiological function of skeletal muscles.

Exploring the obesity-asthma link: do all types of adiposity increase the risk of asthma?

BACKGROUND: Obesity and risk of asthma are linked. Different distributions of adiposity, such as visceral, subcutaneous or ectopic adiposity, may affect asthma risk differently. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of different adiposity types with self-reported asthma, bronchial inflammation and lung function, accounting for possible effect modifiers, such as atopy and gender. METHODS: In a general population sample of 3471 persons aged 19-72, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured by ultrasound, and fat percentage by bio-impedance. Body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), bronchial inflammation as fractional expiratory nitric oxide (FeNO), lung function [FEV(1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)], and atopy (specific IgE) were measured. RESULTS: All adiposity measures were associated with a higher risk of asthma. The risk estimates (odds ratios, OR, with 95% confidence interval, CI) of current asthma were of similar magnitude for all six adiposity measures ranging between 1.17, CI = 0.98-1.40 (SAT) and 1.51, CI = 1.17-1.95 (WHR). The adiposity-asthma associations were significantly stronger in non-atopics than in atopics. In non-atopics the risk estimates of current asthma ranged between 1.35 CI = 1.08-1.72 and 1.82 CI = 1.34-2.46 for SAT and WHR respectively. Consistent results were obtained using dichothomized adiposity measures (obese vs. non-obsese). The FVC and FEV(1) decreased significantly with increasing adiposity in both atopics and non-atopics, e.g. FVC decreased between 36 mL (CI = 10, 62 mL) and 155 mL (CI = 124, 186 mL) for one unit (standard error) increase of SAT and VAT respectively. Adiposity measures were not associated with atopy and not consistently associated with FeNO levels. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The effect of adiposity on asthma was mainly seen in non-atopics and did not appear to depend on the distribution of adiposity as reflected by the adiposity measures used in the present study. Increasing adiposity was associated with lower lung function independent of atopic status.

Medical consultations in relation to severity of hand eczema in the general population.

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema is a common disease with a wide severity spectrum. Little information exists concerning the association between the severity of hand eczema and medical consultations. OBJECTIVES: To describe the self-rated severity of hand eczema in a general population and the relationship to seeking medical attention. METHODS: A questionnaire on self-reported hypersensitivity including two questions on hand eczema was sent to a random sample of 6000 individuals, aged 18-69 years, living in Copenhagen, Denmark. A total of 4242 individuals (71%) answered the questionnaire. All individuals who reported hand eczema (n = 752) within the previous 12 months received a more detailed questionnaire focused on hand eczema and a previously validated photographic guide with four groups of severity ranging from almost clear to very severe. RESULTS: Five hundred and sixty-four individuals (75%) returned the second questionnaire. The 1-year period prevalence of hand eczema was estimated to be 14% in the population. Twenty-three per cent rated their hand eczema as moderate to very severe. In total, 67% had consulted their general practitioner and 44% had consulted a dermatologist because of hand eczema. Multivariate analysis showed a positive association (P < 0.05) between severity of hand eczema and medical consultations. Of those individuals (n = 102) who had not consulted a dermatologist 26% had experienced moderate to very severe hand eczema within the previous 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable proportion of individuals with moderate to very severe hand eczema in the general population miss out on the potential benefit of a dermatological examination, patch testing and a thorough-going exploration of environmental factors.

Prevalence of self-reported hypersensitivity symptoms following intake of alcoholic drinks.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND; Although hypersensitivity symptoms following alcoholic drink consumption are common in asthmatics, the prevalence of such symptoms in the general population is not known. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of hypersensitivity symptoms following alcoholic drink consumption in an adult Northern European general population and the association of these symptoms with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. METHODS: In 2006, a postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 18-69-year-olds living in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. The response rate was 70.7% (4242/6000). RESULTS: The prevalence of alcohol-induced symptoms from the upper airways, lower airways, and skin was 7.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.8-8.4%], 3.2% (95% CI: 2.7-3.8%), and 7.2% (95% CI: 6.4-8.9%), respectively. A total of 13.9% (95% CI: 12.9-15.0%) had ever experienced alcohol-induced symptoms from at least one of the three regions (upper airways, lower airways, or skin), and 9.9% (95% CI: 9.0-10.8%) had experienced symptoms in the last 12 months. All types of beverages were commonly reported as triggers of hypersensitivity symptoms, red wine being the most common. Alcohol-induced hypersensitivity symptoms from the upper and lower airways were significantly more prevalent in persons with AR and asthma (odds ratios between 3.0 and 8.1, P-value <0.001 for all associations). CONCLUSIONS: In this Northern European general population, self-reported hypersensitivity symptoms following the intake of alcoholic drinks are common. These symptoms were markedly more prevalent in persons with AR and asthma. The underlying mechanisms and the clinical significance of these symptoms remain to be elucidated.

[Triglyceride lipase activity and fatty acid transport in physical endurance in rats adapted to the muscular activity]. / Aktivnost' triglitseridlipazy i transport zhirnykh kislot pri predel'nykh fizicheskikh nagruzkakh adaptirovannykh k myshechnoi deiatel'nosti krys.

Aerobic training led to enhancement of lipase activity in type IIA type muscles. Still more obvious changes were found in rats trained to aerobic swimming with maximal intensity. In latter activity, a rise of the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) was revealed in types I and IIA skeletal muscles. These adaptive changes led to enhancement of lipid metabolism. It was also shown that the FABP content decreased after physical exercise more obviously in the trained animals due, probably, to their substance turnover enhancement.

[A micromethod for determining tissue lipase activity using gas-liquid chromatography]. / Mikrometod opredeleniia lipaznoi aktivnosti tkanei s ispol'zovaniem gazozhidkostnoi khromatografii.

Lipase activity was studied in preparations of skeletal muscles and fatty tissue by means of measurement of oleic acid methyl ester concentration developed after triolein hydrolysis using gas-liquid chromatography apparatus. The procedure described helped unify the methodology approaches in estimation of tissue lipases activity and of free fatty acid spectrum of blood serum in microquantities of the material studied, it exhibited high sensitivity and specificity.