ObjectiveLong-chain omega 3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) exert potent anti-inflammatory properties in humans. This study characterized the effects of omega-3 ω-3 fatty acids supplements (ω-3 FA) on the inflammatory status in the placenta and adipose tissue of overweight/obese pregnant women.Study DesignA randomized, double-masked controlled trial was conducted in overweight/obese pregnant women that were randomly assigned to receive DHA plus EPA (2g/day) or the equivalent of a placebo twice a day from week 10–16 to term. Inflammatory pathways were characterized in: 1) adipose tissue and placenta of treated vs. untreated women; and 2) adipose and trophoblast cells cultured with long chain FAs.ResultsThe sum of plasma DHA and EPA increased by 5.8 fold and ω-3 FA/ ω-6 FA ratio was 1.5 in treated vs. untreated women (p< 0.005). Plasma CRP concentrations were reduced (p<0.001). The adipose tissue and placenta of treated women exhibited a significant decrease in TLR4 adipose and placental expression as well as IL6, IL8, and TNFα In vitro, EPA and DHA suppressed the activation of TLR4, IL6, IL8 induced by palmitate in culture of adipose and trophoblast cells.ConclusionSupplementation of overweight/obese pregnant women with dietary ω-3 FAs for >25 weeks reduced inflammation in maternal adipose and the placental tissue. TLR4 appears as a central target of the anti-inflammatory effects at the cellular level.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00957476

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Summary Reasons for performing study The in‐feed oral glucose test (OGT) and oral sugar test (OST) are advocated as field tests of insulin sensitivity in horses and ponies but have not been directly compared. Objectives To compare the insulin response to OGT and OST in 8 ponies and 5 horses of unknown insulin sensitivity. Study design Experimental, randomised crossover study. Methods Animals were fasted for 8 h overnight before and throughout testing. They were fed 1 g/kg bwt glucose powder with chaff (OGT) or 0.15 ml/kg bwt corn syrup (Karo™ Light Syrup; OST) was administered per os in a randomised crossover study with 48 h between tests. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 30, 60, 75, 90, 120 and 180 min. The maximal insulin concentration (Cmaxi), time to maximal insulin concentration (Tmaxi) and area under the curve of insulin concentration over time (AUCi) for the tests were compared using Student's paired t test. The effect of individual subject, horse or pony and test were analysed using a linear mixed model. Results The OGT Cmaxi (mean ± s.d.; 154 ± 116 μiu/ml), Tmaxi (136 ± 52 min) and AUCi (15,308 ± 9886 μiu/ml/min) were significantly (P<0.05) greater compared with the OST Cmaxi (72 ± 55 μiu/ml), Tmaxi (63 ± 25 min) and AUCi (5980 ± 4151 μiu/ml/min). The Cmaxi, Tmaxi and AUCi varied significantly between individual subjects. The Tmaxi was significantly different between horses and ponies during OGT and OST. Using previously defined criteria of insulin dysregulation, OGT identified 7/13 animals as insulin resistant, whereas OST identified 5/13 animals as insulin resistant. Conclusions The OGT and OST showed agreement in identification of insulin dysregulation in 85% of equine subjects. Results of the OGT and OST are not comparable in all cases. Further work is required to establish which test more accurately diagnoses insulin dysregulation in horses and ponies.

Proton NMR imaging techniques have been applied to the investigation of two-dimensional structure in TMTD-vulcanized cis-polybutadiene. Unfilled PB samples of different cross-link densities were swollen with deuterated solvent and directly imaged, using single and multiple spin-echo NMR imaging (NMRI) pulse sequences. The resulting Tz-weighted and 2'2-resolved images display a variety of structural detail. Major structural voids, compression-and reaction-induced gradients of chain segment mobility, and general spatial inhomogeneity in the cross-link density of these samples have been observed. A simple analytical model has been applied to interpret changes in the distribution of Tz values with increasing cure time. The results of this work form the basis for quantitative assessment of spatial variations in the cross-link density of PB from 2'2-resolved images of the material.