Arctic terrestrial ecosystems are generally considered to be species poor, fragile and often isolated. Nonetheless, their intricate complexity, especially that of the invertebrate component, is ...beginning to emerge. Attention has become focused on the Arctic both due to the importance of this rapidly changing region for the Earth and also the inherent interest of an extreme and unique environment. The three archipelagoes considered here, Svalbard, Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, delineate the Barents Sea to the west, north and east. This is a region of convergence for Palearctic and Nearctic faunas re-colonising the Arctic following the retreat of the ice after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Despite the harsh Arctic environment and the short period since deglaciation, the archipelagoes of the Barents Sea are inhabited by diverse invertebrate communities. But there is an obvious imbalance in our knowledge of many taxa of each archipelago, and in our knowledge of many taxa. Research effort in Svalbard is increasing rapidly while there are still few reports, particularly in the western literature, from Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. Nevertheless, there appears to be a surprising degree of dissimilarity between the invertebrate faunas, possibly reflecting colonization history. We provide a baseline synthesis of the terrestrial and freshwater invertebrate fauna of the Barents Sea archipelagoes, highlight the taxa present, the characteristic elements of fauna and the complexity of their biogeography. In doing so, we provide a background from which to assess responses to environmental change for a region under increasing international attention from scientific, industrial and political communities as well as non-governmental organizations and the general public.
•Synthesize the terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity of the Barents Sea archipelagoes.•Describe each invertebrate taxon and compare diversity between the archipelagoes.•Discuss history of colonisation, paleocommunities and environmental change.•Provide a benchmark for the terrestrial ecology of a High Arctic region.•Highlight the need for continuing integrated research especially in phylogeography.
Angiogenesis is the growth of new capillaries from the preexisting blood vessels. Glioblastoma (GBM) tumors are highly vascularized tumors, and glioma growth depends on the formation of new blood ...vessels. Angiogenesis is a complex process involving proliferation, migration, and differentiation of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) under the stimulation of specific signals. It is controlled by the balance between its promoting and inhibiting factors. Various angiogenic factors and genes have been identified that stimulate glioma angiogenesis. Therefore, attention has been directed to anti-angiogenesis therapy in which glioma proliferation is inhibited by inhibiting the formation of new tumor vessels using angiogenesis inhibitory factors and drugs. Here, in this review, we highlight and summarize the various molecular mediators that regulate GBM angiogenesis with focus on recent clinical research on the potential of exploiting angiogenic pathways as a strategy in the treatment of GBM patients.
The metabolic syndrome, a concurrence of disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism, overweight and abdominal fat distribution, mild dyslipidemia, and hypertension, is associated with subsequent ...development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite its high prevalence, little is known of the prospective association of the metabolic syndrome with cardiovascular and overall mortality.
To assess the association of the metabolic syndrome with cardiovascular and overall mortality using recently proposed definitions and factor analysis.
The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, a population-based, prospective cohort study of 1209 Finnish men aged 42 to 60 years at baseline (1984-1989) who were initially without CVD, cancer, or diabetes. Follow-up continued through December 1998.
Death due to coronary heart disease (CHD), CVD, and any cause among men with vs without the metabolic syndrome, using 4 definitions based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome ranged from 8.8% to 14.3%, depending on the definition. There were 109 deaths during the approximately 11.4-year follow-up, of which 46 and 27 were due to CVD and CHD, respectively. Men with the metabolic syndrome as defined by the NCEP were 2.9 (95% confidence interval CI, 1.2-7.2) to 4.2 (95% CI, 1.6-10.8) times more likely and, as defined by the WHO, 2.9 (95% CI, 1.2-6.8) to 3.3 (95% CI, 1.4-7.7) times more likely to die of CHD after adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. The metabolic syndrome as defined by the WHO was associated with 2.6 (95% CI, 1.4-5.1) to 3.0 (95% CI, 1.5-5.7) times higher CVD mortality and 1.9 (95% CI, 1.2-3.0) to 2.1 (95% CI, 1.3-3.3) times higher all-cause mortality. The NCEP definition less consistently predicted CVD and all-cause mortality. Factor analysis using 13 variables associated with metabolic or cardiovascular risk yielded a metabolic syndrome factor that explained 18% of total variance. Men with loadings on the metabolic factor in the highest quarter were 3.6 (95% CI, 1.7-7.9), 3.2 (95% CI, 1.7-5.8), and 2.3 (95% CI, 1.5-3.4) times more likely to die of CHD, CVD, and any cause, respectively.
Cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality are increased in men with the metabolic syndrome, even in the absence of baseline CVD and diabetes. Early identification, treatment, and prevention of the metabolic syndrome present a major challenge for health care professionals facing an epidemic of overweight and sedentary lifestyle.
Background
There are few prospective studies on the associations of changes in objectively measured vigorous physical activity (VPA∆), moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA∆), light physical ...activity (LPA∆), and sedentary time (ST∆) with changes in cardiometabolic risk factors (∆) in children. We therefore investigated these relationships among children.
Methods
The participants were a population sample of 258 children aged 6‐8 years followed for 2 years. We assessed PA and ST by a combined heart rate and movement sensor; computed continuous age‐ and sex‐adjusted z‐scores for waist circumference, blood pressure, and fasting insulin, glucose, triglycerides, and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; and constructed a cardiometabolic risk score (CRS) of these risk factors. Data were analyzed using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, the explanatory and outcome variables at baseline, and puberty.
Results
VPA∆ associated inversely with CRS∆ (β = −0.209, P = 0.001), body fat percentage (BF%)∆ (β = −0.244, P = 0.001), insulin∆ (β = −0.220, P = 0.001), and triglycerides∆ (β = −0.164, P = 0.012) and directly with HDL cholesterol∆ (β = 0.159, P = 0.023). MVPA∆ associated inversely with CRS∆ (β = −0.178, P = 0.012), BF%∆ (β = −0.298, P = <0.001), and insulin∆ (β = −0.213, P = 0.006) and directly with HDL cholesterol∆ (β = 0.184, P = 0.022). LPA∆ only associated negatively with CRS∆ (β = −0.163, P = 0.032). ST∆ associated directly with CRS∆ (β = 0.218, P = 0.003), BF%∆ (β = 0.212, P = 0.016), and insulin∆ (β = 0.159, P = 0.049).
Conclusions
Increased VPA and MVPA and decreased ST were associated with reduced overall cardiometabolic risk and major individual risk factors. Change in LPA had weaker associations with changes in these cardiometabolic risk factors. Our findings suggest that increasing at least moderate‐intensity PA and decreasing ST decrease cardiometabolic risk in children.
Dietary fatty acid intake is reflected in serum fatty acid composition. Studies prospectively investigating serum fatty acids and development of impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) or diabetes mellitus ...(DM) are largely lacking. We assessed the association of serum fatty acid composition with development of IFG or DM.
Middle-aged normoglycaemic men (n = 895) participating in a prospective cohort study were followed up after 4 years.
At baseline proportions of serum esterified and non-esterified saturated fatty acids were increased and polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased in men who after 4 years had developed IFG (n = 56) or DM (n = 34). No differences in dietary fatty acid composition as recorded in 4-day dietary records were noted. In logistic regression analyses adjusting for age; obesity; and fasting lipid, glucose and insulin concentrations, men with proportions of non-esterified and esterified linoleate in the upper third had nearly half the risk for IFG or DM compared with the lower third. In covariate analyses, baseline non-esterified linoleate proportions were associated with changes in fasting insulin and glucose concentrations over the 4-year follow-up. Baseline esterified fatty acid composition was also associated with changes in insulin.
High serum linoleate proportions decreased the risk of developing IFG or DM in middle-aged men over a 4-year follow-up, possibly mediated in part by insulin resistance. These findings support recommendations to substitute vegetable fat for animal and dairy fat in the prevention of disturbances of glucose and lipid metabolism.
. Salonen JT, Nyyssönen K, Salonen R, Lakka H‐M, Kaikkonen J, Porkkala‐Sarataho E, Voutilainen S, Lakka TA, Rissanen T, Leskinen L, tuomainen T‐P, Valkonen V‐P, Ristonmaa U (University of Kuopio, ...Finland), Poulsen HE (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark). Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention (ASAP) study: a randomized trial of the effect of vitamins E and C on 3‐year progression of carotid atherosclerosis. J Intern Med 2000; 248: 377–386.
Objectives. To study the efficacy of vitamin E and C supplementation on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis, hypothesizing an enhanced preventive effect in men and in smokers and synergism between vitamins.
Design and subjects. Double‐masked two‐by‐two factorial trial, randomization in four strata (by gender and smoking status) to receive twice daily either 91 mg (136 IU) of d‐α‐tocopherol, 250 mg of slow‐release vitamin C, a combination of these or placebo for three years. A randomized sample of 520 smoking and nonsmoking men and postmenopausal women aged 45–69 years with serum cholesterol ≥ 5.0 mmol L–1 were studied.
Setting. The population of the city of Kuopio in Eastern Finland.
Intervention. Twice daily either a special formulation of 91 mg of d‐α‐tocopherol, 250 mg of slow‐release vitamin C, a combination of these (CellaVie®) or placebo for three years.
Measurements. Atherosclerotic progression, defined as the linear regression slope of ultrasonographically assessed common carotid artery mean intima–media thickness (IMT), was calculated over semi‐annual assessments.
Results. The average increase of the mean IMT was 0.020 mm year–1 amongst men randomized to placebo and 0.018 mm year–1 in vitamin E, 0.017 mm year–1 in vitamin C and 0.011 mm year–1 in the vitamin combination group (P = 0.008 for E + C vs. placebo). The respective means in women were 0.016, 0.015, 0.017 and 0.016 mm year–1. The proportion of men with progression was reduced by 74% (95% CI 36–89%, P = 0.003) by supplementation with the formulation containing both vitamins, as compared with placebo.
Conclusions. Our study shows that a combined supplementation with reasonable doses of both vitamin E and slow‐release vitamin C can retard the progression of common carotid atherosclerosis in men. This may imply benefits with regard to other atherosclerosis‐based events.
Little is known about the association of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness with development of the metabolic syndrome, which predisposes diseases such as diabetes ...and atherosclerosis. We studied the associations of LTPA and cardiorespiratory fitness with development of the metabolic syndrome (World Health Organization WHO and the National Cholesterol Education Program NCEP definitions).
LTPA over the previous 12 months, VO(2max) (ml. kg(-1). min(-1)), and cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors were assessed in a population-based cohort of 612 middle-aged men without the metabolic syndrome.
At the 4-year follow-up, 107 men had metabolic syndrome (WHO definition). Men engaging in >3 h/week of moderate or vigorous LTPA were half as likely as sedentary men to have the metabolic syndrome after adjustment for major confounders (age, BMI, smoking, alcohol, and socioeconomic status) or potentially mediating factors (insulin, glucose, lipids, and blood pressure), especially in high-risk men. Vigorous LTPA had an even stronger inverse association, particularly in unfit men. Men in the upper third of VO(2max) were 75% less likely than unfit men to develop the metabolic syndrome, even after adjustment for major confounders. Adjustment for possible mediating factors attenuated the association. Associations of LTPA and VO(2max) with development of the metabolic syndrome, as defined by the NCEP, were qualitatively similar.
In particular, high-risk men engaging in currently recommended levels of physical activity were less likely to develop the metabolic syndrome than sedentary men. Cardiorespiratory fitness was also strongly protective, although possibly not independent of mediating factors.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recently proposed definitions for the metabolic syndrome. Little is known of their validity, however. The ...authors assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the definitions of the metabolic syndrome for prevalent and incident diabetes mellitus in a Finnish population-based cohort of middle-aged men (n = 1,005) followed for 4 years since the late 1980s. Four definitions based on the WHO and NCEP recommendations were compared. All definitions identified persons at high risk for developing diabetes during the 4-year follow-up (odds ratios = 5.0–8.8). The WHO definition including waist-hip ratio > 0.90 or body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 was the most sensitive (0.83 and 0.67) and least specific (0.78 and 0.80) in detecting the 47 prevalent and 51 incident cases of diabetes. The NCEP definition in which adiposity was defined as waist girth > 102 cm detected only 61% of prevalent and 41% of incident diabetes, although it was the most specific (0.89 and 0.90). The WHO definition seems valid as judged by its relatively high sensitivity and specificity in predicting diabetes. The NCEP definition including waist > 102 cm also identifies persons at high risk for diabetes, but it is relatively insensitive in predicting diabetes.
The cross-sectional associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and cardiorespiratory fitness with the metabolic syndrome (MS) were investigated in a population-based sample of 1069 ...middle-aged men without diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer.
LTPA was assessed using a detailed quantitative questionnaire. Maximal oxygen uptake VO(2max) and core and related features of the MS were determined. A modified World Health Organization definition of the MS and factor analysis were used.
Men who engaged in at least moderate-intensity (>or=4.5 metabolic equivalents) LTPA <1.0 h.wk-1 were 60% more likely to have the MS than those engaging in >or= 3.0 h.wk-1 even after adjustment for confounders. Low-intensity (<4.5 metabolic equivalents) LTPA was not associated with the metabolic syndrome. Men with a VO(2max) <29.1 mL x kg-1 x min-1 were almost seven times more likely to have the MS than those with a VO(2max) >or=35.5 mL.kg-1.min-1 even after adjusting for confounders. In first-order factor analysis using a promax rotation, the principal factor explained 20% of total variance and had heavy loadings for VO(2max) (-0.57) and at least moderate-intensity LTPA (-0.44), and moderate or heavy loadings for the main components of the MS. The second-order factor analysis generated a principal factor that was strongly loaded on by the main components of the MS and VO(2max) (-0.50) but not LTPA.
A sedentary lifestyle and especially poor cardiorespiratory fitness are not only associated with the MS but could also be considered features of the MS. Measurement of VO(2max) in sedentary men with risk factors may provide an efficient means for targeting individuals who would benefit from interventions to prevent the MS and its consequences.
•An overview of the roles of miRNAs that lead to glioblastoma (GBM) progression is reviewed.•The effects of the current understanding of the role of miRNAs in GBM diagnosis is also discussed.•Future ...considerations to develop miRNAs as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets of miRNA-based therapies for GBM.
Glioblastoma (GBM), also known as grade IV astrocytoma, is the most aggressive primary intracranial tumor of the adult brain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNA species, have critical functions across various biological processes. A great deal of progress has been made recently in dissecting miRNA pathways associated with the pathogenesis of GBM. miRNA expression signatures called gene signatures also characterize and contribute to the phenotypic diversity of GBM subclasses through their ability to regulate developmental growth and differentiation. miRNA molecules have been identified as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for patient stratification and may also serve as therapeutic targets and agents. This review summarizes: (i) the current understanding of the roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of GBM, (ii) the potential use of miRNAs in GBM diagnosis and glioma grading, (iii) further prospects of developing miRNAs as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GBM, and (iv) important practical considerations when considering miRNA therapy for GBM patients.
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