We evaluated colitis severity, fatty acid and lipid mediator contents in colonic tissue, and the expression of genes related to lipid mediator formation.\n\nResults: ARA composition of colon phospholipids was significantly elevated in an ARA dose-dependent manner. ARA, as well as DHA, did not affect colitis severity (body weight loss, colon shortening, diarrhea and hemoccult phenomena) and histological features. PGE(2) contents in the colon were unchanged by dietary ARA, while LXA(4) contents increased in an ARA dose-dependent

manner. Gene expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 was unchanged, while that of 12/15-lipoxgenase (LOX) was significantly increased by dietary ARA. ARA composition did not correlate with neither colon length nor PGE(2) contents, but significantly correlated with LXA(4) content.\n\nConclusion: These results suggest that dietary ARA increases Natural Product Library cell assay ARA and LXA4 contents in colon, but that it has no effect on severity and PGE(2) content in a DSS-induced murine colitis model.”
“Bone integrity is maintained through a balance between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. FDA approved Drug Library solubility dmso Imbalance of the process results in metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis. This study investigated the yellow flag iris extract (YFIE) and revealed its anti-osteoporotic effects in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 mouse cells and RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. When osteoblasts were treated with 1-20 mu g/ml YFIE in an osteogenic medium, the bone

nodule formation by calcium deposits was markedly enhanced during differentiation. Consistently, YFIE stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen type I secretion with a substantial effect on osteoblast proliferation. On the other hand, RAW 264.7 macrophages were pre-incubated with 1-20 mu g/ml YFIE for 5 days in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand Belnacasan price (RANKL). Non-toxic YFIE markedly attenuated the differentiation of macrophages to multi-nucleated osteoclasts. YFIE diminished RANKL-elevated tartrate-resistant

acid phosphatase activity and bone resorption. In addition, the YFIE treatment retarded RANKL-induced cathepsin K production and carbonic anhydrase II expression, both of which are involved in bone resorption. Therefore, YFIE potentially posesses therapeutic agents that may prevent osteoporosis through promoting bone formation and reducing bone resorption.”
“Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) has officially been recognized as a rare disease in Italy. Regional reference centers for EB have been created during the past years. This article discusses the clinical services and coordinated multidisciplinary management of EB in Italy.”
“A balance trial experiment was carried out to evaluate the potential relationship between an enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast (EHY) and yeast culture combined with a live Bacillus subtilis (Bs) on the productive parameters, ileal digestibility, retention of nutrient and energy and villus morphology in broilers.

Cardiorespiratory responses, leg discomfort, muscle fatigue and markers of systemic www.selleckchem.com/products/citarinostat-acy-241.html inflammation were assessed during or after the last NMES session. Tolerance to NMES was quantified as the increase in current intensity from the initial to the final NMES session (Delta Int). Results: Mean Delta Int was 12+/-10 mA. FEV1, fat-free-mass, quadriceps strength, aerobic capacity and leg discomfort during the last NMES session positively correlated with Delta Int (r = 0.42 to 0.64, all p smaller than = 0.06) while post/pre NMES IL-6 ratio

negatively correlated with Delta Int (r = -0.57, p = 0.001). FEV1, leg discomfort during last NMES session and post/pre IL-6 ratio to NMES were independent factors of variance in Delta Int (r(2) = 0.72, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Lower tolerance to NMES was associated with increasing airflow obstruction, low tolerance to leg discomfort during NMES and the magnitude of the IL-6 response after NMES.”
“Site-specific cross-linking can generate homogeneous multimeric proteins of defined valency. Pancreatic-type ribonucleases are an especially attractive

target, selleck as their natural dimers can enter mammalian cells, evade the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor (RI), and exert their toxic ribonucleolytic activity. Here, we report on the use of eight distinct thiol-reactive cross-linking reagents to produce dimeric and trimeric conjugates of four pancreatic-type ribonucleases. Both the site of conjugation and, to a lesser extent, the propinquity of the monomers within the conjugate modulate affinity for RI, and hence cytotoxicity. Still, the cytotoxicity TPX-0005 clinical trial of the multimers is confounded in vitro by their increased hydrodynamic radius, which attenuates cytosolic entry. A monomeric RI-evasive variant of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A) inhibits the growth of human prostate and lung tumors in mice. An RI-evasive trimeric conjugate inhibits tumor growth at a lower dose and with less frequent administration than does the monomer. This effect is attributable to an enhanced persistence of the trimers

in circulation. On a molecular basis, the trimer is similar to 300-fold more efficacious and as well tolerated as erlotinib, which is in clinical use for the treatment of lung cancer. These data encourage the development of mammalian ribonucleases for the treatment of human cancers.”
“A 28 year-old heretofore healthy woman was transferred to our hospital with a two-month history of recurring episodes of bleeding. Administration of vitamin K and prothrombin complex concentrates in the transferring hospital had only temporarily corrected both the markedly elevated international normalized ratio (INR) and the prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The patient’s medical and family history revealed no reason for these abnormalities. Our laboratory analyses revealed a sustained deficiency of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.

Importantly, pharmacologic interruption of the CCL2/CCR2-STAT3 axis Transmembrane Transporters inhibitor suppressed EMT and PCa cell migration, providing a new mechanism linking CCL2 and EMT. Simultaneously targeting PCa AR with siRNA and the CCL2/CCR2-STAT3

axis resulted in better suppression of PCa growth and metastasis in a xenograft PCa mouse model. Human PCa tissue microarray analysis suggests that increased CCL2 expression may be potentially associated with poor prognosis of PCa patients. Together, these results may provide a novel therapeutic approach to better battle PCa progression and metastasis at the castration resistant stage via the combination of targeting AR with siRNA and anti-CCL2/CCR2-STAT3 signalling.”
“In the field of psychology, the first studies in experimental aesthetics were conducted approximately 140 years ago. Since then, research has mainly concentrated on aesthetic responses to visual art. Both the aesthetic experience of music and, especially, its development have

received rather limited attention. Moreover, until now, very little attention has been paid to the investigation of the aesthetic experience of music using neuroscientific methods. Aesthetic experiences are multidimensional and include inter alia sensory, perceptual, affective, and cognitive components. Aesthetic processes are usually experienced as pleasing and rewarding and are, thus, important and valuable experiences for 3-deazaneplanocin A in vivo many people. Because of their multidimensional nature, these processes employ several brain areas. In the present review, we examine

important psychological and neural mechanisms that are believed to contribute to the development of aesthetic experiences of music. We also discuss relevant research findings. With the present review, we wish to provoke further discussion and possible future investigations as we consider the investigation of aesthetic experiences to be important both scientifically and with respect to potential clinical applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier Srl. All rights reserved.”
“Upon hydration, GSK1838705A flax seeds secrete mucilages whose content and physico-chemical properties vary according to the genotype and environment. The aim of the work was to investigate the complex genetic relationships between the vegetative period, colour, size and production of seed, the composition (polysaccharides and proteins) and physico-chemical properties of soluble mucilages collected at 28 degrees C from seeds of 18 lines grown in St Petersburg area. The vegetative period duration was found to impact the size and production of seeds, the yield of mucilages, including the polysaccharides, and the galactosidase enzymes, as well as their composition (mainly the rhamnogalacturonan I moieties) and some of their properties (mainly viscosity).

Mean of central macular thickness in the pre-injection time for intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) group was 295.62 mu, and 309.87 mu in intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) group, which were decreased after six months to 199.27 mu and 221.06 mu, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that IVT

and IVB are both effective in improving vision in uveitic CME. Although effects of triamcinolone on Central Macular Thickness (CMT) are more apparent, this superiority is not seen on Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA).”
“Over https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Vorinostat-saha.html the last 5 years foliar diseases had caused devastating damages in young plantations of Eucalyptus globulus in Uruguay. The sustainability of this species, the most important in the country with more than 270,000 ha of commercial plantations, depends on the rapid development of resistant genetic stock. The genetic variation in resistance of juvenile foliage to diseases and in the onset to adult foliage were examined in a field trial of E. globulus naturally infected by Mycosphaerella

leaf disease (Mycosphaerella spp. and Teratosphaeria spp.) and Eucalyptus rust (Puccinia psidii). The genetic material included 226 open pollinated seed lots from SRT1720 manufacturer 16 provenances of Australia, Chile and Uruguay. Disease severity (% of leaf spots and % defoliation) was assessed 8 months after planting and precocity of phase change (% of adult foliage) at 20 months. Tree growth and survival were evaluated every 2 years up to the ninth year. Differences in disease severity and in precocity of phase change were significant among countries of origin and provenances. Within provenances, the narrow-sense individual tree heritabilities for leaf spot severity (0.37), defoliation (0.41) and proportion of adult foliage (0.40) were higher than those obtained for tree growth (0.19 to 0.33) and similar to those obtained

for survival (0.33 to 0.45). Genetic correlations between disease severity and growth traits were negative LCL161 mw (-0.20 to -0.44) and were also negative between disease severity and survival (-0.28 to -0.51). There were positive genetic correlations between precocity of phase change and growth traits (0.34 to 0.41) and between precocity of phase change and survival (0.29 to 0.37). Our results demonstrate that selection for low disease severity in the first year and for high proportion of adult foliage in the second year are feasible in order to obtain genetic material for sites at risk of infection of both Mycosphaerella leaf disease and Eucalyptus rust.”
“Muscle degenerative diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy are incurable and treatment options are still restrained. Understanding the mechanisms and factors responsible for muscle degeneration and regeneration will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics.

Quadriceps CAR was assessed at 70 degrees of knee flexion at four instants (baseline, 20, 30, and 45min). There was a significant treatment x time interaction (F3,30=5.9, P=0.003) and post hoc analyses revealed that CAR was higher in the focal knee joint cooling session than the control session at 20min (0.79 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.70 +/- 0.12;

t10=3.9, P=0.003) and 45min (0.77 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.69 +/- 0.12; t10=3.1, P=0.01). The CAR tended to be higher during the experimental session than the control NVP-HSP990 session at 30min (0.79 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.74 +/- 0.11; t10=2.1, P=0.07).Volitional activation increased following focal knee joint cooling in healthy volunteers.”
“Introduction: Heart failure (HF) represents a significant healthcare issue because of its ever-increasing prevalence, poor prognosis and complex pathophysiology. Currently, blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is the cornerstone of treatment; however, the combination of RAAS blockade

with inhibition of neprilysin (NEP), an enzyme that degrades natriuretic peptides, has recently emerged as a potentially superior treatment strategy. Areas covered: Following the results of the recent Phase III Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure clinical trial in patients with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), this review focuses on LCZ696, a first-in-class angiotensin receptor NEP inhibitor. This drug consists of a supramolecular complex containing the angiotensin receptor inhibitor valsartan in combination with the NEP inhibitor prodrug, see more AHU377. Following oral administration, the LCZ696 complex dissociates and the NEP inhibitor component is metabolized to the active form (LBQ657). Aspects of the trial that might be relevant to clinical practice are also discussed. Expert opinion: Speculation that LCZ696 will pass the scrutiny of regulatory agencies for HF-REF appears to be justified, and it is likely to become a core therapeutic component in the near future. Replication

of the eligibility criteria and titration protocol used in the PARADIGM-HF this website trial would be valuable in clinical practice and may minimize the risk of adverse events. Although long-term data remain to be generated, the promising results regarding hypertension are likely to expedite acceptance of the drug for HF-REF.”
“For use in chronic oral chemotherapeutic regimens, the potent anticancer drug docetaxel needs a solid oral dosage form. Because docetaxel has a very low permeability and a very low aqueous solubility (biopharmaceutical classification system class IV), a pharmacokinetic booster was combined with a newly developed solid dispersion formulation to improve the oral bioavailability of docetaxel.\n\nThe best performing solid dispersion was a 1/9/1 w/w/w ternary mixture of docetaxel, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-K30 and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).

Ouabain, a Na/K ATPase pump inhibitor, was stereotactically injected into the right striatum

of Wistar rats. One week later, the superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled rat BMSCs (n=7) or vehicle (n=8) were stereotactically transplanted into PLX3397 mouse the left striatum. Using rotarod test, motor function was serially evaluated through the experiment. A 7.0-T MR apparatus was employed to serially monitor the migration of BMSCs in the host brain. Histological analysis was performed at 7 weeks after ouabain injection, i.e., 6 weeks after BMSC transplantation. Ouabain injection yielded the reproducible, focal lesion in the right striatum, causing continuous motor dysfunction throughout the experiment. BMSC transplantation significantly enhanced the recovery of motor function after

ouabain injection. MR imaging demonstrated that the BMSCs aggressively migrated towards the lesion through the corpus callosum. Histological analysis supported the findings on MRI. The BMSCs significantly enhanced the neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) on both sides. Some of them also expressed neuronal or astrocytic phenotypes in the neocortex, SVZ, corpus callosum, and pen-lesion area. These findings strongly suggest that the BMSCs may serve therapeutic impacts on lacunar stroke when stereotactically transplanted at clinically relevant timing.”
“Mutualistic associations shape the evolution in different AZD6094 organism groups. The association

between the leaf-cutter ant Atta sexdens and the basidiomycete fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus has enabled them to degrade starch from plant material generating glucose, which is a major food source for both mutualists. Starch degradation is promoted by enzymes EVP4593 mouse contained in the fecal fluid that ants deposit on the fungus culture in cut leaves inside the nests. To understand the dynamics of starch degradation in ant nests, we purified and characterized starch degrading enzymes from the ant fecal fluid and from laboratory cultures of L. gongylophorus and found that the ants intestine positively selects fungal alpha-amylase and a maltase likely produced by the ants, as a negative selection is imposed to fungal maltase and ant alpha-amylases. Selected enzymes are more resistant to catabolic repression by glucose and proposed to structure a metabolic pathway in which the fungal alpha-amylase initiates starch catalysis to generate byproducts which are sequentially degraded by the maltase to produce glucose. The pathway is responsible for effective degradation of starch and proposed to represent a major evolutionary innovation enabling efficient starch assimilation from plant material by leaf-cutters. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A mouse model of autochthonous melanoma recapitulates some aspects of inflammatory melanoma development in patients. These include a systemic Th2-/Th17-oriented chronic inflammation, recruitment of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and acquisition by tumor-infiltrating TCs of an exhausted’ phenotype characterized by expression of multiple inhibitory receptors including programmed death-1, also expressed on patients’ melanoma-infiltrating TCs. Rather than using extracellular blocking reagents to inhibitory surface molecules on TCs, we sought to dampen negative signaling exerted on them. Adoptively transferred

TCs presenting increased cytokine receptor signaling due to expression of an active Stat5 transcription

factor were efficient at inducing melanoma regression in the preclinical 3-deazaneplanocin A Epigenetics inhibitor melanoma model. These transferred TCs thrived and retained expression of effector molecules in the melanoma microenvironment, defining a protocol endowing TCs with the ability to resist melanoma-induced immunosuppression.”
“The use of herbicides constitutes the principal method of weed control, but the introduction of these compounds into the aquatic environment can provoke severe consequences for non-target organisms such as microalgae. Effects of the widely used herbicide paraquat were assessed on the green freshwater microalga Chlamydomonas moewusii by means of the analysis of its photosynthetic pigment content, using a traditional spectrophotometric technique that selleck chemical provides population bulk measurements, and by means

of flow cytometry, which allowed characterizing the microalgal response at a single-cell level. Results obtained reveal that paraquat concentrations above 50 nM induce chlorosis in a percentage of microalgal cells depending on herbicide concentration and exposure time, as reflected by a reduced cell chlorophyll autofluorescence and pigment content of the biomass. find more Cell viability in these cultures was also reduced in a concentration dependent way. The possibility of analysing chlorotic and non-chlorotic subpopulations separately allowed the study of morphological properties and physiological status of both cell types, leading to the conclusion that chlorotic cells are non-viable cells, based on their reduced size and complexity and their inability to be stained in the fluorescein diacetate assay. In the case of non-chlorotic cells, cell viability was reduced with the increase of paraquat concentration. Non-chlorotic cells in these cultures showed an increased size and complexity in comparison with control cells, probably due to a growth inhibition. Chlorophyll fluorescence was the most sensitive parameter since even cells exposed to the lowest concentration assayed, 50 nM, although not chlorotic, showed a significantly reduced chlorophyll fluorescence with respect to control cells, reflected also by a reduced chlorophyll content of the biomass.

(C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Malignant catarrhal

fever (MCF), a frequently fatal herpesviral disease primarily of ruminant species, has been sporadically reported in pigs. All cases of naturally occurring porcine MCF reported to date have been linked to ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), a gammaherpesvirus in the genus Macavirus carried by sheep. Experimental selleck induction of MCF by aerosolization of the virus in nasal secretions collected from infected sheep has been successful in bison, cattle and rabbits. The goals of this study were to determine the susceptibility of pigs to MCF following experimental intranasal inoculation of OvHV-2, and to characterize the disease. Twelve pigs in four groups were nebulized with 10(5), 10(6), 10(7), or 10(8) DNA copies of OvHV-2 from sheep nasal secretions. Three control pigs were nebulized with nasal secretions from uninfected sheep. Three additional pigs were inoculated intravenously with 10(7) DNA copies of OvHV-2 to evaluate this Fer-1 mw route of infection with cell-free virus. Seven of twelve intranasally challenged pigs became infected with OvHV-2. Five of these seven, all in higher dose groups, developed MCF. Lesions resembled those reported in natural cases of porcine

MCF. The most striking and consistent histological lesions were in trachea, lung, kidney and brain. These comprised mucopurulent tracheitis, interstitial pneumonia,

necrotizing arteritis-periarteritis, and nonpurulent meningoencephalitis. No infection was established in the intravenously challenged or control groups. The study showed that MCF can be experimentally induced in pigs by aerosol challenge using sheep nasal secretions containing OvHV-2. Domestic pigs are a natural clinically susceptible host for sheep-associated MCF. They represent a useful, cost-effective model for MCF research. Published by Elsevier B.V.”
“The phytochemical study NSC23766 supplier of Cordia exaltata Lam. (Boraginaceae) led to the isolation, through chromatographic techniques, of nineteen secondary metabolites: 8,8′dimethyl-3,4,3′, 4′-dimethylenedioxy-7-oxo-2,7′cyclolignan (1), 8,8′-dimethyl-4,5-dimethoxy-3′, 4′-methylenodioxy-7-oxo-2,7′cyclolignan (2), sitosterol (3a), stigmasterol (3b), sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4a), stigmasterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4b), phaeophytin A (5), 13(2)-hydroxyphaeophytin A (6), 17(3)-ethoxypheophorbide A (7), 13(2)-hydroxy-17(3)-ethoxypheophorbide A (8), m-methoxy-p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (9), (E)-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)- 7-propenoic acid (10), 1-benzopyran-2-one (11), 7-hydroxy-1-benzopyran2- one (12), 2,5-bis-(3′,4′-methylenedioxiphenyl)-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (13), 3,4,5,3′, 5′-pentamethoxy-1′-allyl-8. O.

“
“Four new species of the feather mite family Proctophyllodidae are described from two species of the family Mimidae (Passeriformes): Proctophyllodes apanaskevichi sp. n. (Proctophyllodinae)

and Amerodectes dumetellae sp. n. (Pterodectinae) from the Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (L., 1766), and Proctophyllodes gallowayi sp. n. (Proctophyllodinae) and Metapterodectes toxostomae sp. n. (Pterodectinae) from the Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (L., 1758). A. dumetellae and M. toxostomae represent the first records of mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae on mockingbirds.”
“Cognitive abilities depend primarily on cerebrovascular health and PI3K inhibitor aging. In this work, we examine the pathogenic mechanisms of brain dysfunction linked to vascular risk factors, insulin signaling and cerebrovascular damage and explore how these mechanisms interfere with neurodegeneration. Although Abeta hypothesis prevails in the ethiology of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), it has become increasingly evident that disturbances in cerebral glucose metabolism is an invariant pathophysiological feature of AD and may provide an ubiquituos mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of AD.

Currently, it is difficult to identify efficient therapeutic approach for brain protection and recovery, especially because we do not fully understand the underlying neurobiological processes, the nature of the pathophysiological mechanisms and the links between these two categories. Endogenous neurobiological ARN-509 nmr processes, such as “brain reserves”, neurotrophicity, neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, are central to protection and recovery and represent the background of endogenous defense

activity (EDA). The historical concept of neuroprotection being the suppression of pathophysiological processes by a single mechanism or molecule may have been effective in clinical practice, but is now obsolete and indicates a failure of the reductionist approach to neuroprotection in the clinical setting. Pharmacological intervention should address modulation not suppression. The more pathophysiological processes are modulated, the better the chances are for therapeutic success in brain protection and recovery. Therefore, drugs with pleiotropic neuroprotective mechanisms of action PXD101 datasheet are the best candidates for acute neuroprotection.”
“Enrollment of an adequate number of subjects for a clinical trial is a perennial challenge and this might arguably be even more difficult and complex in trials involving patients with schizophrenia. In this paper, we used a modification of the Prospective Preference Approach (PPA) as a prelude to an actual randomized placebo-controlled trial of a cognitive-enhancing agent for patients with schizophrenia. This approach sought to test and enhance subjects’ understanding of the key concepts of the trial, and administered the PPA at baseline and following a brief educational module.

Data from individual participants support this concept. Givinostat supplier (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Axial muscles are innervated by motor neurons of the median motor column (MMC). In contrast to the segmentally restricted motor columns that innervate limb, body wall, and neuronal targets, MMC neurons are generated along the entire length of the spinal cord. We show that the specification of MMC fate involves a dorsoventral signaling program mediated by three Wnt proteins (Wnt4, Wnt5a, and Wnt5b) expressed in and around the floor plate. These Writs appear to establish a ventral(high) to dorsal(low) signaling gradient and promote MMC identity and connectivity

by maintaining expression of the LIM homeodomain proteins Lhx3/4 in spinal motor neurons. Elevation of Wnt4/5 activity generates additional MMC neurons at the expense of other motor neuron columnar subtypes,

whereas depletion of Wnt4/5 activity inhibits the production of MMC neurons. Thus, two dorsoventral signaling pathways, mediated by Shh and Wnt4/5, are required to establish an early binary divergence in motor neuron columnar identity.”
“Obesity is a condition in which excess or abnormal fat accumulation may present with adverse effects on health and decreased life expectancy. Increased body weight and adipose tissue accumulation amplifies the risk of developing various age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory diseases and certain types of cancer. This imbalance in body composition and body weight is now recognized as a state of increased oxidative HKI-272 clinical trial stress and inflammation for the organism.\n\nIncreasing oxidative stress and inflammation affect telomeres. Telomeres are specialized DNA-protein structures found at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and serve as markers of biological aging rate. They also play a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity and are involved in age-related metabolic dysfunction. Erosion of telomeres BI 2536 in vitro is hazardous to healthy cells, as it is a known mechanism of premature

cellular senescence and loss of longevity. The association of telomeres and oxidative stress is evident in cultured somatic cells in vitro, where oxidative stress enhances the process of erosion with each cycle of replication.\n\nShorter telomeres have been associated with increasing body mass index, increased adiposity, and more recently with increasing waist to hip ratio and visceral excess fat accumulation. Furthermore, many of the metabolic imbalances of obesity (e.g. glycemic, lipidemic, etc.) give rise to organ dysfunction in a way that resembles the accelerated aging process.\n\nThis article is a non-systematic review of the evidence linking obesity and accelerated aging processes as they are regulated by telomeres. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.