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International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2023Ghrelin, comprising 28 amino acids, was initially discovered as a hormone that promotes growth hormones. The original focus was on the effects of ghrelin on controlling... (Review)
Review
Ghrelin, comprising 28 amino acids, was initially discovered as a hormone that promotes growth hormones. The original focus was on the effects of ghrelin on controlling hunger and satiation. As the research further develops, the research scope of ghrelin has expanded to a wide range of systems and diseases. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In recent years, substantial studies have demonstrated that ghrelin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and other effects, which could affect the signaling pathways of various kinds of programmed cell death (PCD) in treating diseases. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the function of ghrelin in different kinds of PCD have not been thoroughly illuminated. This review describes the relationship between ghrelin and four kinds of PCD (apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis) and then introduces the clinical applications based on the different features of ghrelin.
Topics: Ghrelin; Apoptosis; Pyroptosis; Signal Transduction; Autophagy
PubMed: 38139082
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417254 -
Bio-protocol Dec 2023Habituation, the process by which animals learn to ignore insignificant stimuli, facilitates engagement with salient features of the environment. However, neural...
Habituation, the process by which animals learn to ignore insignificant stimuli, facilitates engagement with salient features of the environment. However, neural mechanisms underlying habituation also allow responses to familiar stimuli to be reinstated when such stimuli become potentially significant. Thus, the habituated state must allow a mechanism for habituation override. The remarkably precise knowledge of cell identity, connectivity, and information coding in sensory circuits, as well as the availability of tools to genetically target these cells, makes a valuable and important organism for analysis of habituation and habituation-override mechanisms. Studies of olfactory and gustatory habituation in suggest that potentiation of GABAergic neurons underlies certain timescales of habituation and have specified some elements of a gustatory habituation-override pathway. More detailed understanding of gustatory habituation and habituation-override mechanisms will benefit from access to robust behavioral assays for (a) the proboscis extension reflex (PER) elicited by a sweet stimulus, (b) exposure paradigms that result in PER habituation, and, most critically, (c) manipulations that result in PER-habituation override. Here, we describe simple protocols for persistent sucrose exposure of tarsal hairs that lead to habituation of proboscis extension and for presentation of a novel appetitive stimuli that reinstate robust PER to habituated flies. This detailed protocol of gustatory habituation provides (a) a simple method to induce habituation by continuous exposure of the flies to sucrose for 10 min without leading to ingestion and (b) a novel method to override habituation by presenting yeast to the proboscis. Key features • A protocol for stimulation of 's taste (sugar) sensory neurons that induces gustatory habituation without satiation due to ingestion. • A chemical (yeast) stimulation protocol that rapidly induces habituation override/dishabituation in sugar-habituated .
PubMed: 38130897
DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4891 -
Appetite Mar 2024Little is known about how plant-based products influence satiation compared to corresponding meat-based products. As augmented reality (AR) intensifies sensory...
Little is known about how plant-based products influence satiation compared to corresponding meat-based products. As augmented reality (AR) intensifies sensory experiences, it was hypothesized to improve satiation. This study compared satiation between intake of meatballs and plant-based balls and plant-based balls intensified with AR for visual, olfactory, and haptic sensory properties. Intake order of the meatballs, plant-based balls, and augmented plant-based balls, eaten on separate days, was randomized. Satiation was measured from twenty-eight non-obese adults as ad libitum intake of the balls and extra snacks, and as subjective appetite sensations. Liking and wanting to eat the products were also investigated. There were no differences between the products in satiation. Before tasting the augmented plant-based balls were less liked than the meatballs (p = 0.002) or plant-based balls (p = 0.046), but after eating the first ball or eating the ad libitum number of balls the differences in liking disappeared. Wanting evaluations were similar for each product and decreased during eating (p < 0.001). A group of participants susceptible to AR was found (n = 11), described by decreased intake when augmentation was applied. Among the sub-group, wanting to eat the augmented balls was lower before tasting (p = 0.019) and after eating the first ball (p = 0.002) and appetite was less suppressed after eating the balls ad libitum (p = 0.01), when compared to non-susceptible participants. We conclude that meatballs and plant-based balls were equal in inducing satiation, and multisensory augmentation did not influence satiation. However, the augmentation decreased liking evaluations before tasting. Further studies are needed to explore differences between consumer groups in susceptibility to augmentation.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Eating; Satiation; Appetite; Taste Perception; Meat; Energy Intake
PubMed: 38113985
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107171 -
Appetite Feb 2024A person's perception of how long a food will stave off hunger (expected satiety) and the ideal amount to consume (ideal portion size) are both influenced by...
A person's perception of how long a food will stave off hunger (expected satiety) and the ideal amount to consume (ideal portion size) are both influenced by food-to-mealtime norms. Here, we examine whether social norms can modulate this effect, in three experimental studies. In study 1 (n = 235) participants were exposed to a social norm suggesting most people enjoyed consuming pasta for breakfast. There was a main effect of food-to-mealtime congruence for expected satiety and ideal portion size (p < 0.001) - participants selected a smaller portion of pasta for breakfast (vs. lunch) - but there were no other main effects/interactions (p ≥ 0.15). Study 2 (n = 200) followed the same approach as study 1, but sought to examine whether the typical volume of food consumed at breakfast and lunch needed to be controlled. Again, there was a main effect of congruence (the same pattern) (p ≤ 0.02) but no other main effects/interactions (p ≥ 0.73). Study 3 (n = 208) followed the same approach as study 2, but the social-norm message was changed to suggest that most people who eat pasta for breakfast found it effectively reduced their hunger. Again, there was a main effect of congruence (the same pattern) (p < 0.001) but no other main effects/interaction (p ≥ 0.26). These studies provide further evidence for the food-to-mealtime effect, but do not provide any evidence that a single, simple social-norm statement can modulate expected satiety or ideal portion size, or interact with the food-to-mealtime effect.
Topics: Humans; Social Norms; Portion Size; Energy Intake; Satiation; Meals
PubMed: 38081543
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107157 -
Nutrients Nov 2023Aversive conditioning weakens the gratifying value of a comfort meal. The aim was to determine the effect of a cognitive intervention to reverse aversive conditioning... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Aversive conditioning weakens the gratifying value of a comfort meal. The aim was to determine the effect of a cognitive intervention to reverse aversive conditioning and restore hedonic postprandial response.
METHODS
This was a randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel study that was conducted on 12 healthy women ( = 6 in each group). The reward value of a comfort meal was measured on different days: at initial exposure, after aversive conditioning (administration of the same meal with a masked fat overload on the previous day) and after a cognitive intervention (disclosing the aversive conditioning paradigm in the test group vs. no explanation in the control group). The primary outcome, digestive wellbeing, was determined using graded scales at regular intervals before and after ingestion.
RESULTS
At initial exposure, the comfort meal produced a rewarding experience that was impaired using aversive conditioning; upon re-exposure to the original meal, the cognitive intervention increased meal wanting and liking; improved digestive wellbeing and mood; tended to reduce postprandial satiety, bloating/fullness; and abolished discomfort/pain, thereby restoring the hedonic value of the comfort meal. By contrast, sham intervention had no effects, and the postprandial sensations remained like the responses to the offending meal.
CONCLUSION
In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that in healthy women, a mild, short-term acquired aversion to a comfort meal can be reversed using a cognitive intervention.
CLINICALTRIALS
gov ID: NCT05897411.
Topics: Humans; Female; Single-Blind Method; Eating; Satiation; Emotions; Postprandial Period; Cognition
PubMed: 38068820
DOI: 10.3390/nu15234962 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Nov 2023The suitable dietary L-lysine concentration for coho salmon () alevins was assessed by a dose response feeding trial. Six experimental diets were made with graded...
The suitable dietary L-lysine concentration for coho salmon () alevins was assessed by a dose response feeding trial. Six experimental diets were made with graded L-lysine concentrations of 2.29%, 2.81%, 3.32%, 3.80%, 4.27%, and 4.78% of the dry matter, respectively, each of which was fed to triplicate groups of 100 alevins (initial body weight: 0.30 ± 0.01 g) in 18 plastic baskets (water volume 240 L). The alevins were cultured in a flowing freshwater system and fed manually to apparent satiation four times a day for 12 weeks. The survival rate of alevins did not differ significantly among the dietary groups. The specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and body protein deposition (BPD) increased significantly ( < 0.05) with the increase in dietary lysine concentration up to 3.80% and then reduced as lysine level further increased. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) had an inverse trend to SGR. The whole-body crude protein content of the alevins increased significantly with increasing dietary lysine level, while crude lipid content showed the opposite trend. In comparison, the contents of morphological indices, whole-body moisture, and ash were not affected significantly ( > 0.05) by the different dietary lysine concentrations. The highest contents of lysine, arginine, and total essential amino acids (EAAs) were observed in the group with 4.27% dietary lysine concentration, which did not differ significantly from those in the 3.32%, 3.80%, and 4.78% groups but was significantly higher than those in the 2.29% and 2.81% groups. Similarly, valine had the highest content in the group with 4.78%. The variations in dietary lysine had no significant impacts on other EAA and non-EAA contents except glycine, which increased with increasing dietary lysine level. Second-order polynomial model analyses based on SGR, PER, BPD, and FCR evaluated the optimum L-lysine requirements of coho salmon alevins as 3.74%, 3.73%, 3.91%, and 3.77% of the diet or 6.80%, 6.78%, 7.11%, and 6.85% of dietary proteins, respectively.
PubMed: 38067021
DOI: 10.3390/ani13233670 -
Appetite Feb 2024Many individuals would like to lose weight and often attempt to do so by dieting. However, dieting attempts often backfire and contribute to the risk of weight gain and...
Many individuals would like to lose weight and often attempt to do so by dieting. However, dieting attempts often backfire and contribute to the risk of weight gain and obesity. Food restriction inevitably leads to hunger and hunger, in turn, induces negative emotions. The inability to regulate such a hunger-induced increase in negative emotions in an adaptive way may be responsible for overeating. The current study aimed to gain a better understanding of this potential psychological mechanism underlying failed dieting attempts. Adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) were assessed with an online questionnaire in women with a healthy weight. Subsequently, participants were assigned to the fasted condition (fasting for 14h, n = 49) or the satiated condition (eating between 2 h and 30 min before the lab session, n = 59) and attended a lab session in which they completed tasks while given the opportunity to eat chips and M&M's. We did not find an association between any ER variable and the likelihood to begin eating. Among those who began eating, higher scores on adaptive cognitive ER and on maladaptive behavioral ER were associated with lower caloric intake in fasted individuals. Higher scores on adaptive behavioral ER were associated with higher caloric intake in fasted individuals. Utilizing adaptive cognitive ER when experiencing a hunger-induced increase in negative emotions may help individuals manage their food intake and maintain a healthy weight.
Topics: Humans; Female; Hunger; Eating; Emotional Regulation; Emotions; Energy Intake
PubMed: 38042372
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.107148 -
Current Obesity Reports Dec 2023This review examines lifestyle modification for obesity management with the goal of identifying treatment components that could support the use of a new generation of... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This review examines lifestyle modification for obesity management with the goal of identifying treatment components that could support the use of a new generation of anti-obesity medications (AOMs).
RECENT FINDINGS
Semaglutide reliably reduces baseline body weight by approximately 15% at 68 weeks, in contrast to 5-10% for lifestyle modification. Tirzepatide induces mean losses as great as 20.9%. Both medications reduce energy intake by markedly enhancing satiation and decreasing hunger, and they appear to lessen the need for traditional cognitive and behavioral strategies (e.g., monitoring food intake) to achieve calorie restriction. Little, however, is known about whether patients who lose weight with these AOMs adopt healthy diet and activity patterns needed to optimize body composition, cardiometabolic health, and quality of life. When used with the new AOMs, the focus of lifestyle modification is likely to change from inducing weight loss (through calorie restriction) to facilitating patients' adoption of dietary and activity patterns that will promote optimal changes in body composition and overall health.
Topics: Humans; Obesity; Quality of Life; Exercise; Body Weight; Life Style; Anti-Obesity Agents
PubMed: 38041774
DOI: 10.1007/s13679-023-00534-z -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jan 2024The tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis (CE), often known as hydatid disease. Over two-thirds of all occurrences...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
The tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis (CE), often known as hydatid disease. Over two-thirds of all occurrences of this zoonotic disease process in humans are caused by hepatic infection. Clinicians should have a low threshold to consider CE as a differential diagnosis in patients with positive serology and suggestive radiological findings, especially in endemic regions, because signs and symptoms are typically non-specific, especially in early disease.
CASE PRESENTATION
This is a case report of a 26-year-old male who presented with increasing lower abdominal discomfort, mild pain, sense of fullness in the lower abdomen, described as (I'm having a ball in my abdomen), with a history of early satiation and tenesmus, frequency of urine, and history of weight loss and general weakness of 10-months duration. The diagnosis of a hydatid cyst in the mesorectum was made. The cyst was completely excised via open surgery. No local recurrence has been detected up to the present time.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Given how uncommon a site like this is, this case report helps broaden the differential diagnosis of soft tissue masses in such settings, especially in endemic areas. It also describes in great detail how these locations are affected by the hydatid disease.
CONCLUSION
The mesorectal hydatid cyst was challenging to diagnose initially due to its infrequent incidence and uncommon location. In a few rare cases, the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst might be guided by the detection of the cyst membrane and daughter cysts in the germinal membrane.
PubMed: 38039567
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.109061 -
PeerJ 2023Collisions between birds and aircraft cause bird mortality, economic damage, and aviation safety hazards. One proposed solution to increasing the distance at which birds...
Collisions between birds and aircraft cause bird mortality, economic damage, and aviation safety hazards. One proposed solution to increasing the distance at which birds detect and move away from an approaching aircraft, ultimately mitigating the probability of collision, is through onboard lighting systems. Lights in vehicles have been shown to lead to earlier reactions in some bird species but they could also generate attraction, potentially increasing the probability of collision. Using information on the visual system of the Canada goose (), we developed light stimuli of high chromatic contrast to their eyes. We then conducted a controlled behavioral experiment (, single-choice test) to assess the avoidance or attraction responses of Canada geese to LED lights of different wavelengths (blue, 483 nm; red, 631 nm) and pulsing frequencies (steady, pulsing at 2 Hz). Overall, Canada geese tended to avoid the blue light and move towards the red light; however, these responses depended heavily on light exposure order. At the beginning of the experiment, geese tended to avoid the red light. After further exposure the birds developed an attraction to the red light, consistent with the mere exposure effect. The response to the blue light generally followed a U-shape relationship (avoidance, attraction, avoidance) with increasing number of exposures, again consistent with the mere exposure effect, but followed by the satiation effect. Lights pulsing at 2 Hz enhanced avoidance responses under high ambient light conditions; whereas steady lights enhanced avoidance responses under dim ambient light conditions. Our results have implications for the design of lighting systems aimed at mitigating collisions between birds and human objects. LED lights in the blue portion of the spectrum are good candidates for deterrents and lights in the red portion of the spectrum may be counterproductive given the attraction effects with increasing exposure. Additionally, consideration should be given to systems that automatically modify pulsing of the light depending on ambient light intensity to enhance avoidance.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Geese; Light; Eye; Lighting; Ducks; Canada
PubMed: 38025716
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16379