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We have studied the reactions of 1,2-propylene glycol (1,2-PG), DOCH(CH3)CH2OD, on partially reduced, hydroxylated, and oxidized TiO2(110) surfaces using temperature-programmed desorption. On reduced TiO2(110), propylene, propanal, and acetone are identified as primary carbon-containing products. While the propylene formation channel dominates at low 1,2-PG coverages, all of the above-mentioned products are observed at high coverages. The carbon-containing products are accompanied by the formation of D2O and D2. The observation of only deuterated products shows that the source of hydrogen (D) is from the 1,2-PG hydroxyls. The role of bridging oxygen vacancy (VO) sites was further investigated by titrating them via hydroxylation and oxidation. The results show that hydroxylation does not change the reactivity because the VO sites are regenerated at 500 K, which is a temperature lower than the 1,2-PG product formation temperature. In contrast, surface oxidation causes significant changes in the product distribution, with increased acetone and propanal formation and decreased propylene formation. Additionally, D2 is completely eliminated as an observed product at the expense of D2O formation.

BackgroundObesity and inflammation are highly integrated processes in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Molecular mechanisms underlying inflammatory events during high fat diet-induced obesity are poorly defined in mouse models of obesity. This work investigated gene activation signals integral to the temporal development of obesity.MethodsGene expression analysis in multiple organs from obese mice was done with Taqman Low Density Array (TLDA) using a panel of 92 genes representing cell markers, cytokines, chemokines, metabolic, and activation genes. Mice were monitored for systemic changes characteristic of the disease, including hyperinsulinemia, body weight, and liver enzymes. Liver steatosis and fibrosis as well as cellular infiltrates in liver and adipose tissues were analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry.ResultsObese C57BL/6 mice were fed with high fat and cholesterol diet (HFC) for 6, 16 and 26 weeks. Here we report that the mRNA levels of macrophage and inflammation associated genes were strongly upregulated at different time points in adipose tissues (6-16 weeks) and liver (16-26 weeks), after the start of HFC feeding. CD11b+ and CD11c+ macrophages highly infiltrated HFC liver at 16 and 26 weeks. We found clear evidence that signals for IL-1β, IL1RN, TNF-α and TGFβ-1 are present in both adipose and liver tissues and that these are linked to the development of inflammation and insulin resistance in the HFC-fed mice.ConclusionsMacrophage infiltration accompanied by severe inflammation and metabolic changes occurred in both adipose and liver tissues with a temporal shift in these signals depending upon the duration of HFC feeding. The evidences of gene expression profile, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, and histological data support a progression towards nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis in these HFC-fed mice within the time frame of 26 weeks.