Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy1,2 and promotes cardiometabolic health3. Loss of BAT during obesity and ageing is a principal hurdle for BAT-centred obesity therapies, but not much is known about BAT apoptosis. Here, untargeted metabolomics demonstrated that apoptotic brown adipocytes release a specific pattern of metabolites with purine metabolites being highly enriched. This apoptotic secretome enhances expression of the thermogenic programme in healthy adipocytes. This effect is mediated by the purine inosine that stimulates energy expenditure in brown adipocytes by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate–protein kinase A signalling pathway. Treatment of mice with inosine increased BAT-dependent energy expenditure and induced ‘browning’ of white adipose tissue. Mechanistically, the equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1, SLC29A1) regulates inosine levels in BAT: ENT1-deficiency increases extracellular inosine levels and consequently enhances thermogenic adipocyte differentiation. In mice, pharmacological inhibition of ENT1 as well as global and adipose-specific ablation enhanced BAT activity and counteracted diet-induced obesity, respectively. In human brown adipocytes, knockdown or blockade of ENT1 increased extracellular inosine, which enhanced thermogenic capacity. Conversely, high ENT1 levels correlated with lower expression of the thermogenic marker UCP1 in human adipose tissues. Finally, the Ile216Thr loss of function mutation in human ENT1 was associated with significantly lower body mass index and 59% lower odds of obesity for individuals carrying the Thr variant. Our data identify inosine as a metabolite released during apoptosis with a ‘replace me’ signalling function that regulates thermogenic fat and counteracts obesity.
Substance P and hemokinin‐1 were predominantly examined by immunoassays with their limitation to differentiate appropriately between both peptides. The use of liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry is a promising, highly selective alternative. Adsorption processes have been identified in preliminary experiments to play a crucial role in the loss of mass spectrometry intensity of both peptides. Therefore, a design of experiments concept was created to minimize nonspecific peptide adsorption. For this purpose, the most critical influencing parameters—(1) the composition of the injection solvent as well as (2) the most suitable container material—were systematically and concordantly investigated. The addition of modifiers, such as formic acid, dimethyl sulfoxide, and organic solvents, to the injection solvent led to a substantial gain of intensity of substance P and hemokinin‐1 compared to the start gradient as an injection solvent. Furthermore, the systematic investigation underlined the high impact of the container material, demonstrating polypropylene as the most favorable material. A conjoint injection solvent optimum was found to determine both peptides simultaneously by the conduction of a sweet‐spot analysis. The experimental design substantially reduced nonspecific peptide adsorption and enabled the simultaneous and selective determination of endogenous substance P and hemokinin‐1 plasma levels.
BackgroundPlasma renin levels were determined in the academia-driven, EU-funded “Labeling of Enalapril from Neonates up to Adolescents” (LENA) project to evaluate its role in pediatric heart failure. Quality-controlled bioanalysis is crucial to ensure reliable data generation. However, a comprehensive bioanalytical quality control (QC) concept to monitor the method performance within an academic environment was lacking.MethodsThus, a QC concept was designed encompassing regulatory guidance, international recommendations and current scientific discussions. The concept included (1) a system-suitability test, (2) verification of single bioanalytical runs by calibration curve performance and evaluation of QCs, (3) assessment of the inter-run accuracy according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline, (4) monitoring of reproducibility by pediatric incurred samples, (5) blank-sample analysis and (6) participation in interlaboratory testing.ResultsThe concept was successfully applied to the academic project. About 11% of single runs were identified as invalid and triggered a re-analysis of unknown samples being included in those runs. The usefulness of the customized inter-run monitoring was demonstrated and proved the good accuracy from the first to the last run. All 147 reanalyzed incurred sample pairs complied with regulatory requirements.ConclusionsThe regulatory complied QC concept was customized for the demands of academia-driven pediatric trials and contributed to the reliable quantification of 965 pediatric renin samples.
BackgroundIn Germany 37.1% of dispensed medicinal products were intended to use in self-medication in 2017.1 An investigation showed that 25.2% of children and adolescents used self-medication in Germany.2 Hence, pharmacists’ education needs to include training for competence in consultation.3A modern method to train this competence is the use of OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations). The aim of this study was to assess whether the use of OSCEs in pharmacy students to train the consultation performance on self-medication is more effective than a conservative teaching method.MethodsThis randomised controlled investigation was conducted in a pre-post-design with pre-OSCEs before training and post-OSCEs after training in each group. Clinical skills at baseline and after the training were measured. Forty students in their last year of pharmacy studies were randomised into a control and an intervention group. The control group attended a lecture on self-medication and the intervention group had additionally to the lecture one hour of OSCEs for training purpose. An analytical checklist was used for measuring consultation skills and a global rating scale for assessing communication skills.ResultsComplete data was received from 30 students (n=16 intervention group, n=14 control group). Consultation skills improved significantly (analytical checklist: 19.88% ± 10.95% intervention group vs. 9.29% ± 10.89% control group, p< 0.05). However, the communication skills (global rating scale: 20.83% ± 24.33% in the intervention group vs. 11.90% ± 17.12% in the control group, p= 0.380) did not improve significantly during the one-hour training period.ConclusionOSCEs for training purpose are an effective method to convey pharmacy students consultation skills in self-medication. However, communication skills need more training. Based on these results OSCEs on self-medication for the paediatric population should be investigated. This is relevant due to the frequency of self-medication in the paediatric population.ReferencesAbda.de. [Internet]. Berlin: Federal union of German associations of pharmacists. Numbers, data, facts 2016. [Cited January 30, 2019]. Available from: https://www.abda.de/fileadmin/assets/ZDF/ZDF_2018/ABDA_ZDF_2018_Brosch.pdf Du Y, Knopf H. Self-medication among children and adolescents in Germany: results of the National Health Survey for children and adolescents (KiGGS). Br J Clin Pharmacol 2009;68:599–608.Joint Statement by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the World Self Medication Industry (WSMI). [Internet]. Responsible Self-medication. 1998. [Cited January 30, 2019]. Available from: https://www.fip.org/www/uploads/database_file.php?id=241&table_id=.Disclosure(s)Imaneh Farahani, Anna Laven, Samieh Farahani, Maira A. Deters, Martin Feickert, Fabian K. Suessenbach, Holger Schwender and Stephanie Laeer declare that they have no conflict of interest.
BackgroundIn cell line experiments, the selective NK-1-receptor antagonist Aprepitant was able to inhibit the cardiotoxic adverse effects of Doxorubicin,1 a common cytostatic used in paediatric cancer therapies. Cytostatic therapy is one of the principal reasons for toxic cardiomyopathy in children, resulting in dilated cardiomyopathy and consequently leading to heart failure. However, Aprepitant is currently licenced for adults and children and is indicated amongst others in the antiemetic supportive therapy of Doxorubicin regimes. To address the hypothesis of any indication of Aprepitant in preventing cardiotoxic adverse effects of Doxorubicin, systematic literature research is needed.MethodsSystematic literature research was examined using PubMed in January 2019. Selected inclusion criteria were: ‘Substance P’ or ‘Aprepitant’ and ‘Doxorubicin’/’cardiac inflammation’/’cardiomyopathy’ or ‘Aprepitant’ and ‘paediatrics’/’neonates’/’children’. The use of Aprepitant in adults and children as an antiemetic agent and the involvement of Substance P in (neurogenic) inflammation, cardiac infarction or diabetes led to the exclusion of publications.ResultsThe PubMed search resulted in 220 identified publications whereby 33 were relevant concerning the potential use of Aprepitant in the prevention of cardiotoxic adverse effects of Doxorubicin. It emphasises the potential use of Aprepitant in the prevention of toxic cardiomyopathy by antagonizing the inflammatory effects of the endogenous NK-1-agonist Substance P regarding cell and animal models.1 2 Based on these models, Substance P is associated with adverse cardiac remodelling and cardiac inflammation. However, in children, Aprepitant was only used as an antiemetic agent and no off-label indication was described.ConclusionSince toxic cardiomyopathy is a severe adverse effect in the Doxorubicin therapy in children, the evaluation of the role of Substance P is a promising and worthy approach to condense the knowledge about a potential use of Aprepitant in preventing paediatric toxic cardiomyopathy.ReferencesRobinson P, Kasembeli M, Bharadwaj U, et al. Substance P receptor signaling mediates doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and triple-negative breast cancer chemoresistance. Biomed Res Int2016; 2016. doi:10.1155/2016/1959270Levick SP, Soto-Pantoja DR, Bi J, et al. Doxorubicin-induced myocardial fibrosis involves the neurokinin-1 receptor and direct effects on cardiac fibroblasts. Heart Lung Circ. Published Online First: September 2018. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2018.08.003Disclosure(s)Martin Feickert and Bjoern B. Burckhardt declare that there is no conflict of interest. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.