Superoxide and NADPH oxidase do not modulate skin blood flow in older exercising adults with and without type 2 diabetes

Experimental research in environmentally induced hyperthermic older persons: A systematic quantitative literature review mapping the available evidence

The heat-related health burden is expected to persist and worsen in the coming years due to an aging global population and climate change. Defining the breadth and depth of our understanding of age-related changes in thermoregulation can identify underlying causes and strategies to protect vulnerable individuals from heat. We conducted the first systematic quantitative literature review to provide context to the historical experimental research of healthy older adults - compared to younger adults or unhealthy age matched cases - during exogenous heat strain, focusing on factors that influence thermoregulatory function (e.g. co-morbidities). We identified 4,455 articles, with 147 meeting eligibility criteria. Most studies were conducted in the US (39%), Canada (29%), or Japan (12%), with 71% of the 3,411 participants being male. About 71% of the studies compared younger and older adults, while 34% compared two groups of older adults with and without factors influencing thermoregulation. Key factors included age combined with another factor (23%), underlying biological mechanisms (18%), age independently (15%), influencing health conditions (15%), adaptation potential (12%), environmental conditions (9%), and therapeutic/pharmacological interventions (7%). Our results suggest that controlled experimental research should focus on the age-related changes in thermoregulation in the very old, females, those with overlooked chronic heat-sensitive health conditions (e.g. pulmonary, renal, mental disorders), the impact of multimorbidity, prolonged and cumulative effects of extreme heat, evidence-based policy of control measures (e.g. personal cooling strategies), pharmaceutical interactions, and interventions stimulating protective physiological adaptation. These controlled studies will inform the directions and use of limited resources in ecologically valid fieldwork studies.

Gasotransmitter signaling in energy homeostasis and metabolic disorders

Gasotransmitters are small molecules of gases, including nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and carbon monoxide (CO). These three gasotransmitters can be endogenously produced and regulate a wide range of pathophysiological processes by interacting with specific targets upon diffusion in the biological media. By redox and epigenetic regulation of various physiological functions, NO, H₂S, and CO are critical for the maintenance of intracellular energy homeostasis. Accumulated evidence has shown that these three gasotransmitters control ATP generation, mitochondrial biogenesis, glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and thermogenesis, etc. Abnormal generation and metabolism of NO, H₂S, and/or CO are involved in various abnormal metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. In this review, we summarized the roles of NO, H₂S, and CO in the regulation of energy homeostasis as well as their involvements in the metabolism of dysfunction-related diseases. Understanding the interaction among these gasotransmitters and their specific molecular targets are very important for therapeutic applications.

Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity: What is the role of inflammatory responses? A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a chronic disease responsible for a high morbidity and mortality rate, with an increasing worldwide prevalence. Obesity is associated with immune responses characterized by chronic systemic inflammation. This article focuses on the mechanisms that explain the proposed link between obesity-associated diseases and inflammation. Also, it describes the role of inflammatory molecules in obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities.

METHODS

More than 200 articles were selected and consulted by an online English search using various electronic search databases. Predefined key-words for the pathogenesis of obesity-induced inflammation and associated diseases, as well as the role of various inflammatory molecules, were used.

RESULTS

We have summarized the data of the articles consulted in this research and we have found that obesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation resulting from the change of adipose tissue (AT). The AT produces a variety of inflammatory molecules called adipocytokines that are involved in the onset of systemic low-grade inflammation which is the link between obesity and associated-chronic abnormalities; such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, diabetes, and some cancers. Also, we have searched all the inflammatory molecules involved in this pathogenesis and we have briefly described the role of 16 of them which are the most related to obesity-associated inflammation. The results have shown that there are inflammatory molecules that have a positive relationship with the pathogenesis of obesity-related diseases and others have a negative relationship with this pathogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the development of various metabolic-abnormalities related to obesity. In this regard, the management of obesity may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other metabolic complications by inhibiting inflammatory mechanisms.