Characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, metabolic syndrome is associated with the risks of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Obesity, which increases the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and subsequently leads to increased stress and inflammation, appears to play a central
In the 2001 Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, former Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD, warned of the negative effects of the increasing weight of American citizens and outlined a public health response to reverse the trend. The Surgeon General plans to strengthen and expand this blueprint for action created by her predecessor. Although the country has made some strides since 2001, the prevalence of obesity, obesity-related diseases, and premature death remains too high.
During the last years the understanding for the aetiology of cardiomyopathies could be greatly improved. A great deal of information has accumulated in the field of inherited metabolic diseases, which provides a new basis for our understanding of many heart muscle problems and their corresponding clinical disease entities. This book is meant to give the reader a comprehensive overview of the cardiological manifestations of inborn errors of metabolism. Latest information, such as cardiomyopathy in Fabry disease or in patients with CDG-syndrome is included. It should be helpful, not only to cardiologists, paediatricians, internists and general practicioners, but also to all those interested in a better understanding of the metabolic basis of clinical disease entities.
This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.
This book brings a comprehensive treatise about obesity, examining the measures that can be taken to stop and even reduce obesity if these right measures are taken in time. Recent studies show that obesity is on the increase at an alarming rate, especially in the industrialized and affluent countries. A number of reasons have been put forward for this increase, including life style choices, over-eating, over-use of commercially processed food, addiction for fast food, high caloric diet specially containing high levels of sugar and fat, lack of exercise and sedentary life style. Also genetic make up has been associated with obesity. Obesity can lead to a variety of lethal diseases, notably coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes. These diseases account for the highest number of human death amongst all other causes. There are also a number of other side effects associated with obesity including increased stress, loss of intelligentsia, pancreatitis, premature birth and osteoarthritis. In recent years media have been playing important roles in highlighting the lethality and damage caused by obesity, nevertheless no significant effects can be seen in the population and obesity remains on the increase, especially amongst children. The editors believe that it is important that more education, campaign and research are used to stop this increasing disease.
Due to the resultant health consequences and considerable increase in prevalence, obesity has become a major worldwide health problem. “Obesity and Lipotoxicity” is a comprehensive review of the recent researches to provide a better understanding of the lipotoxicity-related mechanisms of obesity and the potential for the development of new treatment strategies. This book overviews the biochemical pathways leading to obesity-related metabolic disorders that occur subsequent to lipotoxicity. Chapters examine the deleterious effects of nutrient excess at molecular level including the cellular and molecular aspects of breast cancer, resistance to leptin, insulin, adiponectin, and interconnection between the circadian clock and metabolic pathways during high-fat feeding. “Lipotoxicity and Obesity” will be a useful resource for clinicians and basic science researchers, such as biochemists, toxicologists, immunologists, nutritionists, adult and pediatric endocrinologists, cardiologists, as well as students who are thought in this field.
Oxidative stress and inflammation are among the most important factors of disease. Chronic infections, obesity, alcohol and tobacco usage, radiation, environmental pollutants, and high-calorie diets have been recognized as major risk factors for a variety of chronic diseases from cancer to metabolic diseases. All these risk factors are linked to ch
Methods in Toxicology, Volume 2: Mitochondrial Dysfunction provides a source of methods, techniques, and experimental approaches for studying the role of abnormal mitochondrial function in cell injury. The book discusses the methods for the preparation and basic functional assessment of mitochondria from liver, kidney, muscle, and brain; the methods for assessing mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo and in intact organs; and the structural aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction are addressed. The text also describes chemical detoxification and metabolism as well as specific metabolic reactions that are especially important targets or indicators of damage. The methods for measurement of alterations in fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism and for the analysis and manipulation of oxidative injury and antioxidant systems are also considered. The book further tackles additional methods on mitochondrial energetics and transport processes; approaches for assessing impaired function of mitochondria; and genetic and developmental aspects of mitochondrial disease and toxicology. The text also looks into mitochondrial DNA synthesis, covalent binding to mitochondrial DNA, DNA repair, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of developing individuals and cellular differentiation. Microbiologists, toxicologists, biochemists, and molecular pharmacologists will find the book invaluable.
Obesity: Oxidative Stress and Dietary Antioxidants cover the science of oxidative stress in obesity and associated conditions, including metabolic syndrome, bariatric surgery, and the potentially therapeutic usage of natural antioxidants in the diet or food matrix. The processes within the science of oxidative stress are not described in isolation, but in concert with other processes, such as apoptosis, cell signaling and receptor mediated responses. This approach recognizes that diseases are often multifactorial and oxidative stress is but a single component. The book is designed for nutritionists, dietitians, food scientists, physicians and clinical workers, health care workers and research scientists. - Covers the basic processes of oxidative stress, from molecular biology, to whole organs - Highlights antioxidants in foods, including plants and other components of diet - Provides the framework for further, in-depth analysis or studies via well-designed clinical trials or via the analysis of pathways, mechanisms and componentsa
The endothelium enables communication between blood and tissues and is actively involved in cardiovascular homeostasis. Endothelial dysfunction has been recognized as an early step in the development of cardiovascular diseases: respectively, endothelium represents a potential therapeutic niche with multiple targets. The purpose of the book is to point out some recent findings of endothelial physiology and pathophysiology emphasizing various aspects of endothelial dysfunction connected to the body's internal and external environment. While basic features of the endothelium are presented in an introductory chapter, the authors of the following 17 chapters have provided extensive insight into some selected topics of endothelial (dys)function. The book would hopefully be useful for anyone interested in recapitulating endothelial (patho)physiology and expanding knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in endothelial dysfunction, relevant also for further clinical investigations.