Effect of Cold Exposure and Exercise on Insulin Sensitivity and Serum Free Fatty Acids in Obese Rats.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effect of exercise and cold exposure on insulin sensitivity and the level of serum free fatty acids (FFA) in diet-induced obese rats. METHODS: Sixty-four diet-induced obese rats were randomly assigned to eight groups: room temperature-sedentary, room temperature-exercise, acute cold exposure-sedentary, acute cold exposure-exercise, intermittent cold exposure-sedentary, intermittent cold exposure-exercise, sustained cold exposure-sedentary, and sustained cold exposure-exercise. After the interventions, the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values, the level of serum FFA, subcutaneous fat ratio (SFR) and visceral fat ratio, enzyme activities of adipose triglyceride lipase, and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in inguinal adipose tissue, and protein expression of PGC1-α and p38 MAPK in skeletal muscle were investigated. RESULTS: We found that exercise ( P = 0.0136) and cold exposure ( P < 0.0001) reduced HOMA-IR values independently. Exercise reduced serum FFA ( P = 0.0041), whereas cold exposure did not affect them. Moreover, the HOMA-IR values were positively correlated with the serum FFA levels ( r = 0.32, P = 0.01). SFR or visceral fat ratio was coordinately reduced by the interaction (for SFR, P = 0.0015) or opposing main effects between or of cold exposure and exercise, supporting the reduction of serum FFA. However, cold exposure or exercise increased the activity of adipose triglyceride lipase and LPL independently or interactively (for LPL, P = 0.0143), suggesting an increase in serum FFA. Finally, cold exposure and exercise enhanced protein expression of PGC1-α and p38 MAPK independently or interactively (for p38 MAPK, P = 0.0226), suggesting increased uptake and oxidation of serum FFA in muscle. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the combination of exercise and cold exposure may result in more serum FFA utilization than production and thus lead to reduced serum FFA and increased insulin sensitivity.

Invasive ductal carcinoma within borderline phyllodes tumor with lymph node metastases: A case report and review of the literature.

Phyllodes tumor (PT) is a rare type of biphasic fibroepithelial neoplasm that may coexist with a breast tumor in rare cases. In the current study, a 52-year-old female presented with a left breast lump. Mammography and sonographic examination results suggested a diagnosis of malignant tumor. Histological analysis revealed a borderline PT with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) within the tumor. Due to the presence of a single micrometastasis in three of the sentinel lymph nodes, the patient underwent modified radical mastectomy. The excised tumor contained triple negative breast cancer; therefore, postoperative treatment included six cycles of chemotherapy and 25 cycles of radiotherapy. The patient exhibited no recurrence and no metastatic disease at the 23-month follow-up examination. Thus, the present study discussed the case of a female patient that presented with IDC within borderline PT and reviewed the literature on this rare type of neoplasm. Various types of breast carcinoma have been identified to coexist with PT in different masses; however, no standard therapeutic regimen has been established for the coexistence of PT and breast cancer in the same mass. The present study indicates that determination of an appropriate treatment strategy predominantly depends on the characteristics of the individual breast tumor.