The n-3 PUFAs have been shown to be efficacious in treating and preventing various diseases. The wide variation in dosages and formulations used in studies makes it difficult to recommend dosages for specific treatment goals.

Objectives. To develop a sustainable formal faculty mentoring program to support professional development of new faculty members at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Methods. Program components included a mentorship subcommittee, faculty mentoring guidelines, protégé/mentor pairs, an orientation, seminars/workshops, and meetings between mentor/protégés pairs. Preparticipation and postparticipation questionnaires about the faculty mentoring program were used to assess changes in perceived level of abilities of protégés and mentors in areas of teaching, service, and scholarship. Results. After 5 years, 93 protégés and 73 mentors have participated in the faculty mentoring program. Program evaluations were largely positive. Self-perceived abilities of protégés increased in all areas addressed, program self-study, faculty recruitment, grant application preparation, program development, and promotion process. Perceived abilities of mentors also showed some increases following the faculty mentoring program. Conclusion. Both protégés and mentors can benefit from mentoring relationships. Faculty mentoring programs are important for faculty development and retention and achievement of academic and institutional goals.

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Hyperinsulinism, insulin resistance, and decreased number of insulin receptors are characteristic of obesity in both humans and experimental animals. To assess the role of insulin in developing obesity, diazoxide (DZ), an inhibitor of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, was administered for 8 weeks to 7-week-old female Zucker rats in two concentrations, 50 mg/kg.day (LD-DZ), and 100 mg/kg.day (HD-DZ). The obese and lean rats were divided into three subgroups: diazoxide (DZ), pair-fed (PF), and control (C) groups (n = 6 rats/subgroup-genotype). Diazoxide-treated obese and lean animals showed significantly lower postabsorptive plasma insulin concentrations (P < 0.005) than their respective obese and lean PF and C subgroups. HD-DZ obese rats consumed more calories (P < 0.001), yet gained less weight (P < 0.05) than PF and C rats. The plasma glucose concentrations in the postabsorptive state and during glucose tolerance tests in HD-DZ obese rats were significantly lower than those in PF and C rats (P < 0.01) despite a decrease in their plasma insulin concentrations (P < 0.01), whereas HD-DZ lean rats displayed a diabetic response (P < 0.01). The adipocyte-specific insulin receptor binding was dose-dependently increased in both lean and obese DZ animals (P < 0.01). DZ had a dual effect on insulin metabolism; it decreased insulin secretion and increased insulin receptor binding. This dual effect was associated with improved glucose tolerance and a decrease in weight gain in obese rats.